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Bowls for Humanity to combat Utah County homelessness

The Food and Care Coalition of Provo will host its ninth annual Bowls for Humanity fundraiser on March 20.

Participants view pottery bowls at last year

Participants view pottery bowls at last year's Bowls for Humanity at the Food and Care Coalition. The Food and Care Coalition holds the event each year to help homeless and low-income individuals. (Heather Hogue)

Professional and student artists make bowls and donate them to be sold at the fundraiser. Residents who go can purchase a bowl, then fill it up with a choice of three different types of soup, provided by Marvelous Catering and the coalition’s chef Ken Larsen.

'This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and it help us out significantly,' said Heather Hogue, storehouse director of the Food and Care Coalition. 'This is an event where we are able to raise a lot of awareness and help the community see the services that we're providing to help the homeless right here in Utah County.'

The Bowls for Humanity fundraisers usually bring in $10,000–$15,000 for the Food and Care Coalition. The proceeds of this year's event will support the recently opened on-site transitional housing units. The units provide on-site shelter for the homeless, in addition to access to services like warm meals, showers and laundry facilities.

'This all started as a grassroots movement, where we were approached by artists in the community who wanted to contribute,' said Brent Crane, executive director of the Food and Care Coalition. 'We obviously loved the idea, and it's just grown as students, professionals and volunteers, have gotten more involved.'

This year's event will showcase approximately 1,800 pieces of donated pottery from junior high and high school students, university students and professional artists. Previous events have attracted around 1,000 community attendees. The event is intended to not only raise money but, bring increased community attraction to the work being done at the Coalition.

'These people really do such wonderful things for our local community,' said Scooter Page, a volunteer at the coalition and a junior at BYU. 'I'm excited for the event, because I feel like I have the chance to contribute to making a difference in the lives of people who desperately need it.'

Bowls at the event can be purchased for prices starting at $5, with more intricate pottery pieces priced at $20. There will also be a silent art auction, with pieces between $75 and $100.

Entrance to the event is free and all ages are welcome to attend. The event will take place at the Food and Care Coalition, located at 299 E. 900 South, Provo, Utah. For more information, see the Facebook page.