Approximately 300 community members gathered at Our Daily Bread’s fifth annual Empty Bowls event on February 28 at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax City.

Attendees selected handcrafted bowls donated by local artists, students and community members and enjoyed a simple meal of soup, bread and desserts donated by local restaurants and businesses. The evening also included jazz music from the Fairfax Saxophone Quartet and raffles and silent auction items.

The event raised approximately $18,000 to support Our Daily Bread’s efforts to provide food, financial assistance, financial education and other support to individuals and families throughout the Fairfax County area who are
struggling to make ends meet.

“It takes an income of about $60,000 for a family of four to thrive in the Fairfax County area. Most of the clients we help only make about $20,000 per year,” said Our Daily Bread Executive Director Lisa Whetzel. “Here in one of the wealthiest areas in the nation, it is shocking that tens of thousands of people struggle with hunger and hardship on a daily basis. We are so grateful to everyone in the community who donated to Empty Bowls and came out to the event. It is heartening to see so many who share our conviction that no one in our community should go without food and life's basic necessities."

Dozens of volunteers made this event possible, including George Mason University Introduction to Leisure course and fundraising class students, Alpha Delta Kappa teachers’ sorority members, GMU Delta Sigma Pi fraternity brothers, Donato’s Pizza Fairfax employees and Oakton United Methodist Church congregants.

Attendees enjoyed soup and chili from Choices by Shawn, Dolce Vita, Hard Times Café (Fairfax), Piero's Corner (Fairfax) and Zöe's Kitchen (Fairfax); bread from Great Harvest Bread Company (Burke); and desserts from Chantel's Love at First Bite Bakery and The Baking Squad of Herndon.

Local artists, students and community members who contributed bowls include: Annandale High School, Beech Tree Elementary, Clay Café Studio of Chantilly, Color Me Mine of Fairfax, Keith Conway, Nanette Henderson, Susan Fox Hirschmann Art Pottery, James Madison High School
National Arts Honor Society Students, Marshall High School Octagon Club, Maruja Ubelaker – Mu Pottery, Stephen Shaffran, Shark Tank Racing Squad Swimmers, South County High School, The Baking Squad, Jack Weyant and Westfield High School.

The event was made possible because of the sponsorship of The Democratic Women of Clifton, Cooley LLP, Apple Federal Credit Union, Edelman Financial Services, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., Virginia Commerce Bank and Jim and Mary Shaffran. Our Daily Bread also appreciates support from: Photographer Hernan Vargas, The Fairfax Saxophone Quartet, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy (Fairfax), Whole Foods Market (Vienna), Face Painter Julia Choe of Young's Cleaners (Fairfax), Balloon Artist Martha Ades and Debbie Dogrul Associates.

Read the Related Article: Empty Bowls Artists Give Back Through Their Art.

Our Daily Bread relies on volunteers and supporters from our community to provide assistance and financial education to individuals and families throughout the Fairfax County area. Learn more about Our Daily Bread’s programs and volunteer needs at www.ODBFairfax.org.