VERO BEACH — The Samaritan Center, a long term facility for homeless families in Indian River County, gears up for their 20th Annual Soup Bowl fundraising event this summer, starting with the Samaritan Center Soup Bowl workshop held at the Vero Beach Museum of Art beginning August 18.
A collaboration of master ceramics artisans produce wheel-thrown stoneware bowls and soup tureens at this workshop held at the Vero Beach Museum of Art.
These handmade bowls will be sold for $10, and raffle tickets will be sold for the soup tureens at more than 30 public locations where the soup will be served.
“The bowls are collector’s items, as this event is in its 20th year.” said Shotsi Cain Lajoie, co-chair of this year’s event and workshop co-ordinator.
“We set our production goal to 1000 bowls last year, and the artisans made 1200. We will see if they surpass the goal again. The ceramics facility at the Vero Beach Museum of Art is state of the art and can accommodate this kind of production. It has two very large gas kilns. We are very grateful for this continuing partnership,” added LaJoie.
“The artists have a healthy competitive spirit. We receive donations of gift certificates for the top producers to add a bit of fun for all,” LaJoie explained.
The public is invited to watch the wheel throwing starting the weekend of August 18 and 19 during Museum hours, which are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday.
The public is invited to watch the whole process.
The schedule is as follows:
August (Throwing and Trimming)
Saturday the 18th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday the 19th from 1-4 p.m.
Wednesday the 22nd from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday the 25th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday the 26th from 12-4 p.m.
Wednesday the 29th from 3-9 p.m.
September( Throwing and beginning of Glazing)
Wednesday the 5th from 3-9 p.m.
Saturday the 8th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday the 9th from 1-4 p.m.
(Glazing Only)
Wednesday the 12th from 3-9 p.m.
Saturday the 15th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday the 16th from 1-4 p.m.
Wednesday the 19th from 3-9 p.m.
Saturday the 22nd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Soup Bowl fundraising event will be held Thursday, November 1, at participating locations throughout Indian River County.
The soup, donated by over 70 restaurants, is served at 13 places of worship. Soup is also supplied by 20+ businesses who serve the soup on their premises.
Last year, 5000+ were served in Indian River County.
Soup Bowl at Home events are individual private gatherings that also receive bowls if the supply lasts.
The Samaritan Center is a program of Catholic charities and is a United Way agency.
If you would like to help underwrite the costs of this workshop, contribute to the artists and/or this event, please send contributions to the Samaritan Center at 3650 41st St. in Vero Beach, Florida 32967, or contact Shotsi Cain Lajoie at (772) 453-9049 for more information.
