Soup was on Friday as the Bonner Community Food Bank held its annual Empty Bowl fundraiser to raise awareness of food insecurity and help those in need.

"I see community," food bank executive director Debbie Love said of the event, looking around an already-filled room at the Marigold Bistro bustling with conversation and music by a pair of Music Conservatory of Sandpoint students. "This is one of my favorite events, where it is just so fun to have people in and out. So many people are here to help the food bank and it just feels so good to have the support of our community."

The annual event raises $5,000 to $6,000 each year, helping at a time when donations decrease after the busy holiday season with dozens of food drives helping fill the shelves, Love said.

"With this time of year with the holidays past us, we really are looking to fill our shelves again," Love told the Daily Bee. "This will help restock our shelves and just keep things going for a few months and help supply food to the community."

While the longtime fundraiser was forced into a hiatus during the pandemic, it returned last year to the delight of both the food bank and the community. 

Each year, the food bank partners with Sandpoint High School pottery students, who create ceramic bowls gifted to those who purchase the soup lunch. Last year's event, the first after the several-year pause, quickly ran out of the pottery bowls as more than 100 brightly colored vessels created by the students were snapped up.

"We sold out the 110 bowls within the first 45 minutes," Love said. "We almost doubled that number of bowls this year to accommodate more people."

This year, the students created 200 bowls, again in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Filling two tables, the bowls lined the entrance to the Marigold Bistro eating area; some made a quick decision, smiling as they reached out to pluck one of the bowls. Others picked up first one, then another; struggling over which bowl to take home.

"The students are amazing," Love said. "Each bowl is so unique and very precious."

The SHS pottery students love taking part in the fundraiser, telling food bank officials that they enjoy giving back to a cause that helps them in the form of snacks for the school's students.

The event takes roughly four months to plan, Love said while noting that this year's organization of the event went more smoothly as it became more routine in its second year back after COVID forced a pause.

"People are happy it's back," Love said. "They're very excited to add to their collection of ceramic bowls and help the food bank."

More than 29 volunteers, including food bank board members, turned out to help the event run smoothly, bowls filled and customers helped pick out a bowl.

Among those supporting the Empty Bowl fundraiser were Lou MacAfee and her mother, Jean Babcock. The pair said they love the event and love helping the food bank even more. MacAfee serves on the organization's finance committee and Babcock bags groceries in the food bank's "store," where those in need shop for items based on what they need and what's available.

"It's fun and it's worthwhile," Babcock said. "And it's my first bowl."

MacAfee, who picked up her fourth bowl, said it was important to the pair to show support for the food bank so that it can continue to help others in the community.

"It's so important to be here and help," she said. "And it's going to be even more important and the months go by. They're going to need more community support because I think they're going to lose some federal support."

Babcock agreed, saying she loved staying involved and being a part of the community by volunteering at the food bank — and by coming to events like the Empty Bowl fundraiser.

"I think it's a real need and people are appreciative," the 95-year-old said. "I want to do something where I can give back. I've been retired a long time and I don't want to just play. I want to do something that feels useful."

Food bank officials said the community has a sizable population of "working poor" — those living paycheck to paycheck — who rely on the food bank or meals at one of the town's soup kitchens to get by. While the number of those helped has stabilized, Bonner Community Food Bank helps about 3,000 families a month — roughly 53% over what it was a few years ago.

While a common misconception says those who use a food bank are lazy, Love said that's far from the case. Most are the working poor or turn to the food bank when they've run out of options.

"We have people coming in all the time not wanting to, but they don't have anywhere else to go," Love said previously. "They're very prideful people, especially the older generation, they, you know, grew up during the Depression, or that time when they utilized every little thing. So when they get to that point, they think, 'Oh, a can of soup is just fine.' But really that's the only thing they have in their cupboard."

To donate to the food bank, learn more about its services or find out how to volunteer, go online to foodbank83864.com; or on Facebook, facebook.com/bonnercommunityfoodbank.

    Jerry Luther relaxes after enjoying a bowl of soup during Friday's Empty Bowl fundraiser for the Bonner Community Food Bank.