Dear Friends,

Welcome back to Empty Bowls in Perth.

Recently I came across the image above. Although it's from the Depression of the 1930's it struck a resonant chord. A report released in Perth just last January found a shocking level of homelessness and couch-surfing among young people in Lanark County. YAK is a drop in centre which closes at 9:30 at night so it can't offer shelter. But it does offer a regular supper program which is a significant help.

Those who work at the Food Bank know all too well that at the end of any given month more and more families - and these are working families for the most part - must choose between rent and food. Over 40% of the nearly 4,000 clients they help each year are children.

It's hard to believe, and hard to accept, but there it is.

Please help fund the food programs offered by these two organizations, neither of which qualifies for stable funding from any level of government. Last year, together with the restaurants of Perth, we filled 500 hand made stoneware bowls from my studio with soup and raised over $10,000.

With your help we can do the same again this April.

 

There are several ways you can support Empty Bowls

1. Come to the Festival of the Maples in Perth on April 24th. - the last Saturday in April. I'll be on the street in front of Riverguild Fine Crafts together with chefs from various local restaurants. Pick out a bowl and we'll fill it with hot soup. For your donation (suggested $20) you get to eat the soup and take home the bowl. I hope that whenever you use it you will reflect for a moment on the reality of hunger in our community.

2. If you can't make it to the Festival of the Maples, drop into the Riverguild when you are next in Perth. It's a co-operatively run fine craft gallery. I'll try and have bowls on hand during the year. (Unfortunately you'll miss out on the soup.)

3. I know some of you live far from Perth. There are pick up points during April and May in Ottawa (Snapdragon on Bank Street) and Kingston (Cornerstone at Ontario and Princess streets.)  I can also ship you bowls but I'll have to charge for postage. Each bowl comes with a colourful card explaining the project and makes for a meaningful and lasting gift.

4. Here's a new addition for 2004. These beautiful 12" x 18" posters are $5 each unframed. Any profit goes directly to the Food Bank and YAK. Just specify which poster by name.

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To order bowls or posters you can email me at js@superaje.com
Cheques for donations to Empty Bowls or for purchase of bowls and posters
should be made out to "J. Seaton - Empty Bowls"
RR 7, Perth, Ontario K7H 3C9

"BOWLS"                                                            "KILN"    

On behalf of YAK and the Food Bank
Thanks for your support!

Jackie Seaton