Every fall, the Homer Community Food Pantry holds their annual Empty Bowl fundraiser, partnering with local potters, restaurants and community members to host a hearty lunch and raise money to assist the pantry’s continued operations and service to the greater Homer community. This year — a year marked by high inflation, rising costs and financial uncertainty everywhere — saw a new height of community generosity as donations and contributions brought in by the Empty Bowl fundraiser, held Nov. 7 at the Homer United Methodist Church, amounted to $14,000, surpassing that of all previous years.

“The Homer Community Food Pantry would like to extend a hearty Thank You to all the folks who contributed to this year’s Empty Bowl Fundraiser!” pantry board member Deb Schmidt wrote in a letter Monday. “This time of year we really start depleting our finances, so this is an amazing gift for us!”

About a dozen tables were filled with people enjoying a meal together on Nov. 7 at HUMC. Schmidt wrote that the annual fundraiser not only helps to support the food pantry, but also gives the community an opportunity to come together and socialize.

“Folks come to this event with the attitude of supporting the food pantry, but more importantly than that, sitting down and enjoying a conversation with friends and sometimes even making new acquaintances and connections, all while having a warm bowl of comfort food,” she wrote.

Planning and promotion of the event began in late September by HCFP board members and volunteers. Local restaurants were contacted in mid-October about supplying soups and breads for attendees to purchase. Implementing the many elements of the fundraiser was, overall, a community effort.

According to Schmidt, local potter Dave Kaufman contacted nine individual ceramicists who, in addition to Kaufman himself and ceramicists at both Homer High School and Homer Council on the Arts, donated 168 artisan bowls to the cause. Community members attending the fundraiser could purchase a bowl with their lunch for $50, increasing the donations given to the pantry. April Skorski, Joe Harrington, Maygen Lotscher, Marie Herdegen, Ahna Iredale, Sara Sims, Paul Dungan, Lisa Wood and Carrie Longpre all donated handcrafted bowls this year.

“The bowls were so popular that they were sold out halfway through the event,” Schmidt wrote. “What a beautiful compliment!”

Twenty-one varieties of soups were donated by The Bagel Shop, Red Bird Kitchen, Fat Olives, Cafe Azul, Latitude 59, Alasandro’s Market, Vida’s Thai Food,, Pika Pika Bento, Two Sisters, Wild Honey Bistro, Twisted Goat, The Galley, Best Western Bidarka Inn, Tutka Bay Lodge, Captain’s Coffee, Land’s End Resort and Synergy Gardens, as well as individuals Stan Rivera Tracy Asselin, Sue Saupe, Cindy Koplin and Wendall Cummings. According to Schmidt, the 62 gallons of soup overall were donated for the event.

Homemade breads were donated by Bear City Breads, Two Sisters, Caroline Venuti and Don and Sherry Stead. Desserts were provided by former and current HCFP board members and other community members.

“Nobody went away hungry and all seemed to have satisfied their palate!” Schmidt wrote.

She also thanked Loopy Lupine for donating compostable paper bowls for the fundraiser, for attendees who wished to only purchase lunch and not a ceramic bowl. Schmidt also credited Save U More and Safeway for donating butter and rolls, respectively, and the Homer United Methodist Church for the use of their facility for the fundraiser.

“Each year that we have the Empty Bowl (it) seems to go a bit smoother, perhaps because

people dedicating their time and effort have done it for a few years now and take ownership and

pride in their area,” Schmidt wrote. “You are such an asset to the pantry. We couldn’t do it without you!

“Thank you to our fabulous Homer community for your caring and compassion towards those in need — so that none may go hungry. We hope to see you again next year when the soup’s on!”

Learn more about the Homer Community Food Pantry at homerfoodpantry.org/.

Community members line up for hot soup and bread during the Homer Community Food Pantry’s annual Empty Bowl fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at the Homer United Methodist Church in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

A family eats together at a table in the Homer United Methodist Church during the Homer Community Food Pantry’s annual Empty Bowl fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

A volunteer dishes up soup during the Homer Community Food Pantry’s annual Empty Bowl fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at the Homer United Methodist Church in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)