More than 800 tickets were sold for the Foodbank’s annual “Empty Bowls” event held on Wed., Oct. 27, from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., at the Fairpark.
Freelance event coordinator Shana Medrano was the in-charge lady for the day. This whirlwind of energy told me 900 bowls had been produced for and donated to the always-popular and well-attended soup-for-lunch-fest.
The doors opened at 11:30, but the long line to get in started forming at 10:30 when Sandy Sands arrived. She wanted first crack at bowl selection.
The deal is that if you buy a $25 ticket for “Empty Bowls,” you get to choose a handmade bowl to take home, as well as soups from local restaurants and kitchens like California Fresh, Trattoria Uliveto, Central City Market, and Testa Catering to eat with French bread on the premises.
Chicken tortilla, Chef Rick’s famous garlic soup, chicken noodle, tomato bisque, and lentil soup were some of the lunch choices.
Guadalupe Mayor Lupe Alvarez, Santa Maria City Council candidate Jack Boysen, and city councilperson Alice Patino were among the soup servers. Congresswoman Lois Capps appeared for a brief stint at ladling out lunch.
Bob Nichols brought his potters wheel and demonstrated the making of a vessel. He contributed bowls to the event, as did potters Bill and Jean Shinn, who also donated a huge bowl for the silent auction.
Who was there? It would take less time to tell you who wasn’t! Such a crowd—and such a generous crowd. The silent auction bidders didn’t hold back in upping their offers for treasures like Jerry Stinn earrings, a Jill Targer painting on silk, and lunch and spa sessions (or golf) at Trilogy in Nipomo.
A bunch of hard-working guys from the Knights of Columbus picked up gallons of soup from local kitchens, delivered it to the Fairpark, and manned the kitchen.
Altrusa serves for 50 years!
For the past 50 years, the members of Altrusa International Inc. of Santa Maria have been raising money and plowing it back into the community. Their first big splash was paying for the town’s very first SMOOTH van ever, back in 1974, when there was no public transportation.
To mark the occasion of 50 years of service and giving, 87 Altrusans and friends gathered at the Santa Maria Inn on Saturday evening, Oct. 16, for an Anniversary Celebration Dinner.
SMOOTH is the service that transports senior citizens and those in need of medical and physical assistance to necessary appointments. Three days a week, a SMOOTH van takes Santa Marians to medical appointments in Santa Barbara.
The first Santa Maria Altrusa president, 89-year-old Esther Layfield, traveled from Austin, Texas, for the event. Carole Rich, an early-years member, drove from Tucson for the occasion.
A beaming Pauline Skiba, current president, greeted guests at the door. Past presidents Betty Baxter, Jackie MacNeil, Sandi Miller, and Jackie Smith were at my table, as was Tammy Fournier, who received a special award for outstanding service.
SMOOTH’s executive director, Jim Talbott, couldn’t say enough nice things about this organization.
United Way CEO Eddie Taylor delighted the crowd with his keynote speech.
Happy 50th birthday, Altrusa International of Santa Maria. The community loves you!
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Nov 4-10, 2010.