Community Corner

Empty Bowls Event Raises Food Shelf Funds for Southern Anoka County

People went to Spring Lake Park High to share a simple meal, pick up a hand-thrown ceramic bowl and help the hungry.

On Monday Southern Anoka Community Assistance (SACA) held the first of two fundraising events set for March.

People who attended the event at Spring Lake Park High School donated to SACA's food shelf efforts and in return got a meal of soup, salad and bread—and an empty bowl to help them remember those in the community who struggle to pay for food.

Lee Persell, a potter from Fridley who teaches at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts, was on hand to demonstrate pot-throwing. As she shaped a tall pot on a low, slow-turning wheel, Persell recalled being so enamored of pottery as a student at that she would sneak into the art room.

Find out what's happening in Fridleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Persell's pots have been part of past Empty Bowls events and she said she will try to get some in the silent auction at another Empty Bowls event SACA is holding on March 24 at Murzyn Hall in Columbia Heights.

That's the one that Barb Hansen, who made the trip to Plymouth for Monday's event, said she's used to attending from past years—the Spring Lake Park High School event is a new addition this year.

Find out what's happening in Fridleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hansen got hearty greetings from the other volunteers at the Empty Bowls front table. She volunteers with SACA regularly, having taken over for a daughter who started at SACA while a student with Wayzata High School's Club Y.E.S. but who is now at college.

Why travel to a different county to help out? The need is greater in Anoka County, Hansen said. In western Hennepin County, she said, "they've got millions." In Anoka County, "they need millions."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Fridley