GLOUCESTER— The Open Door will hold its Empty Bowl TO GO 2.0 fundraiser this Saturday, May 7 from 4-6 p.m. at The Open Door
28 Emerson Ave., Gloucester, raising funds to support its Mobile Market and Summer Meals for Kids programs.
Empty Bowl events are held nationwide, raising funds for hunger-relief programs. The bowl goes home with participants as a reminder: somewhere, someone’s bowl is empty.
The Open Door has held an Empty Bowl fundraiser annually since 2001, except in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit.
“The reality is, somewhere, someone’s bowl is empty— including right here, on the North Shore. Empty Bowl TO GO 2.0 is a reminder of that and an opportunity to collectively make an impact,” President and CEO Julie LaFontaine said. “Despite its sobering message, this event is a celebrated, joyous tradition in our community. It speaks to a longstanding culture of helping one another on Cape Ann—and having fun along the way.”
Pay-what-you-can tickets for the Empty Bowl TO GO 2.0 event are available by visiting FOODPANTRY.org/empty bowl. Ticket holders at the event will receive a hand-painted bowl, soup, bread roll, cookie, and water. Participants will also receive fruit directly from The Open Door’s new Mobile Market Farmers Truck, and dog treats will be available for pets along for the drive-thru ride with their owners.
Soups offered at the event will include the popular clam, corn and fish chowders along with hearty tomato and white bean with quinoa (gluten free, vegan, and kosher [non-certified]), chicken and rice (gluten free and kosher [non-certified]), and mushroom soup (kosher [non-certified]).
Restaurants to prepare soup for the event include: Captain Hooks, Causeway Restaurant, Seaport Grille, J.T. Farnham’s, George’s Restaurant and Bar, Lobsta Land, Minglewood, Sugar Magnolias, Turner’s Seafood, Willow Rest, and The Open Door kitchen team, including locally renowned chef Ken Duckworth, who will be preparing Duckworth’s Bistrot mushroom soup for the event. Bread at the event is baked by Alexandra’s Bread and Virgilio’s Bakery. Cookies are being prepared in-house at The Open Door.
The Empty Bowl online auction is also live at biddingowl.com/theopendoor. Approximately 40 Cape Ann artists and local elected officials created bowls to be auctioned off in support of hunger-relief programs of The Open Door. The auction closes May 13.
