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On behalf of the Pine Tree Potters’ Guild, I would like to express our gratitude to everyone who supported our 15th Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser at Newmarket’s Old Town Hall.
Empty Bowls events are held by potters in communities throughout North America to raise funds and awareness for local charities that work to relieve hunger and homelessness within their community. The two local charities Pine Tree Potters’ Guild Empty Bowls fundraiser supports are Welcoming Arms, Aurora, and Inn From the Cold, Newmarket. For 2024, we are thrilled to report that our event raised $27,600, therefore, Welcoming Arms, Aurora & Inn from the Cold, Newmarket, have each received $13,800.
Our approach for our 2024 Empty Bowls Fundraiser was comprised of two parts; a lunch and dinner event on Thursday, Nov. 21 and continued sales of bowls on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 22 to 24) in a designated bowl room, as part of our annual Holiday sale. It was amazing to see how many people from the community came out to purchase bowls from our designated bowls room, it really made a HUGE impact towards the funds raised for these two charities, as well as spreading awareness of their needs.
At the meal event, patrons choose a soup bowl from the hundreds on display in our bowls room. Pine Tree Potters work all year to create approximately 600 bowls, which are all donated so patrons entering our bowls room are captivated by the sheer artistry. After selecting a bowl, they proceed to our dining auditorium where local culinary establishments are ready to serve a ladle of their signature gourmet soups and artisan breads, all donated as well. After guests enjoy multiple dishes of these delicious soups, they take their selected handmade bowl home to serve as a gentle reminder that not everyone has a full bowl every day.
We are so grateful to the following culinary partners who donated gourmet soup and bread for our meal event:
- Catharina's Kitchen
- Dorio's Kettleby Italian Bakery
- Food In Motion Catering
- Hungry Brew Hops
- The Hurst Bakery
- Inn From The Cold
- Joia on Main
- Ka.Ba.Ba
- La Bréhandaise Catering
- More In The Kitchen
- Orchid Thai
- Piazza Italian Eatery
- Ristorante Orsini
- Romy's Restaurant and Lounge
- State and Main Kitchen and Bar Aurora
- Sweet Dutchess Kitchen and Café
- Taste It Catering
We extend a heartfelt thank you to Meridian Credit Union for a very generous grant and support in selling tickets ahead of the event. Thank you to the staff at Newmarket’s Old Town Hall for their assistance to ensure our event went off without a hitch. Thank you to Joy Gannicott and Anthony Kubelka, the pianists who played beautiful music while patrons enjoyed their soups.
Thank you to our sponsors, Tucker’s Pottery Supplies for donating the clay used by our potters crafting the bowls, to David Schembri Design for his artistry and to Allegra Print Aurora for donating our printed materials.
Thank you to our dedicated volunteers who donated their time and skills to ensure the success of our event. Finally, thank you to the members of our communities who continue to purchase tickets and bowls, enabling our guild to raise these much-needed funds for Inn from the Cold and Welcoming Arms.
Stay tuned into Pine Tree Potters’ Guild Instagram, Facebook,and Website for information on 2025’s Empty Bowls event and sales, which will again be at Newmarket’s Old Town Hall. We look forward to seeing you there!
Lisa-Marie Oliphant
Chair, Empty Bowls Fundraiser
Pine Tree Potters’ Guild
