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By Meghna Palat
Warm and hearty soups, fresh baked breads, decadent bakery desserts and skillfully designed crackpot bowls alone cannot describe this year’s Empty Bowls event. We had a turn up of 240 attendees: 153 ticket purchasers, 41 volunteers, 10 staff members, 26 vendors and 10 HSH participants. There were many first-time attendees, many of whom commented on Empty Bowls’ sense of community and the opportunity that it presents to give back.
Team members from the accounting firm, TGC chose to attend EB this year as a way of giving back for the holidays. Beth Duffus, a friendly and approachable face, was one of them. Aside from the delicious soups, she shared her enthusiasm for working within the non-profit sector in the past. She said, “These charities need all the help they can get so they can give back to the community.” She described EB as a “nice bonding event”.
“These charities need all the help they can get so they can give back to the community.”
Enthusiastic, long-time supporters, Romeo and Helena Valencia have been attending EB for 3 to 4 years. They became involved with Home Suite Hope through their daughter and former HSH Director of Development, Krystal Valencia. Both Helena and Romeo shared their commitment to Home Suite Hope and how much they love supporting the community in any way they can. Romeo shared his interest in cooking and how much he enjoys trying the different soups at EB. He described EB as a great event that he hopes to continue supporting for the years to come.
A HSH long-time supporter, Blair Richardson learned about Home Suite Hope by dropping off fresh meals to participants through Food For Life, one of HSH’s partners. Richardson received the opportunity to get to know the other board members, one of them being Kevin Farrell. Thanks to supporters like Richardson, this year alone, 86% of participants who completed the HBH program exited with employment. However, for Richardson the idea of giving back is quite simple. He says, “What inspires me to give back is the value in offering compassion for people in need. Many graduates I’ve spoken to have shared with me that they are now free from poverty.” This goes back to HSH’s mission as an organization. When our participants gain independence in every aspect of their life, they can pass on the skills that they’ve developed through HSH to their children, ending the cycle of poverty for good.
“Many graduates I’ve spoken to have shared with me that they are now free from poverty.”
However, this goal would not be possible without our dedicated caseworkers. Richardson describes them as “committed”. He says, “Home Suite Hope brings in many clients. It can be a challenge to help them and then extend that support within the community, especially considering the expenses per family.” The idea of giving back becomes urgent, especially considering inflation.
Kevin Farrell, a HSH board member and Treasurer, also a member of the St. Jude’s Anglican Church, was supporting a community member: Melissa through the Partners of Change Campaign at St. Jude’s which St. Jude’s is still a supporter of. Melissa completed the HBH program and is now a volunteer coordinator for HSH.
Farrell has worked closely with caseworkers to provide permanent housing for a family of six who were living in a hotel as well as housing another participant, Nicole, and getting her connected to HSH’s programming. His previous profession as an accountant allows him to help participants achieve the financial stability and success they’ve always hoped for. He says, “Offering wraparound supports is more effective in helping participants get back on their feet.”
Farrell’s wife, Catherine, offers her time at Frontline Outreach which is a soup kitchen and programming space within the building of our home office, and so she understands how prevalent homelessness is within Oakville. She says, “There aren’t many supports like HSH.” She used the saying, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” It’s supporters like the Farrell family who understand HSH’s mission, who can actively contribute to the wellbeing of the community.
“There aren’t many supports like HSH.”
Even though all attendees are a united front regarding the positive impact that Empty Bowls has had on the Oakville Community, most guests have different preferences in soup. Beth said her favourite soup is warm and spicy, African Peanut Soup from Halifax. A participant’s face lit up when she shared that she enjoys a traditional, decadent Colombian soup called Sancocho filled with potato, corn, and veggies. The Hearthstone by the Lake was the most popular soup vendor of the afternoon. Libby, the mother of a past participant, shared her preference for the vendor’s, Pear 'n Parsnips and another participant shared her liking for the red pepper soup.
Overall, this year’s 16th annual Empty Bowls was a success thanks to the long-time supporters, first-time attendees, participants and staff whose contributions have not gone unnoticed!