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 Winters are long and harsh for animals and people in Geauga County,
Ohio. What better way to beat the blustery blues and help the animals
at Geauga Humane Society's Rescue Village than to raise over $50,000 at one of the season's warmest events? GHS calls it Empty Bowls.
Event Ingredients
Bring over 300 people together with:
- Eight different donated soups from the area's best restaurants (10 gallons each)
- 500 handmade bowls so that each guest goes home with their favorite
- 100 silent auction items focused on fine arts, sports, and animal themed original works (Tip: don't forget items for the men!)
- Ten live auction celebrity bowls designed and signed by
celebrities (GHS was able to obtain bowls from Robert Redford and
Geauga's local celebs - a syndicated cartoonist and Pulitzer
prize-winning photographer.)
- An auction of need where people raise paddles and donate for the cause "just because"
The Recipe for Success
Here's the recipe (adjust to your own taste and situation):
- Organize a volunteer event committee (8 to 10 people) at least six
months ahead of time, and make a budget. (Getting almost everything
donated is key.)
- Break down into teams responsible for:
- choosing the event location
- getting sponsors; lining up donated food
- getting the hand-decorated bowls
- rounding up silent/live auction items
- recruiting volunteers for event day
- publicizing the event
- Partner with the local visual arts community to get the bowls
made and decorated, and bring a whole new audience to the cause through
Bowl Parties at local do-it-yourself pottery studios, schools, arts
organizations, etc.
- Put together a great invite list and get names that go
beyond the "usual suspects;" personalize invitations ("Hi animal lover
named Paula, would love to see you at Empty Bowls. Signed, your best
friend's sister Laura")
- Key Ingredients: follow through, not forgetting why you're doing this, and having fun!
Setting a Splendid Table
When event day comes and the guest bowls are beautifully displayed,
and the soups are steaming, and the auctions items are fabulous, and
the hall is decorated to show happy endings and how this is all about
the animals in need, you will be amazed. Open the doors, greet hundreds
of guests, and know that the shelter animals' bowls won't go empty.
Illustration by Jenny Campbell
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