The last open Bowls of Caring party was hosted at Coal Train Coffee Depot in Rock Springs. So many people turned up that the YWCA ended up running out of available bowls.
After 24 years, the YWCA of Sweetwater County will bid farewell to one of its most beloved fundraising events.
Bowls of Caring began as Bowls of Sharing in 2004 in memory of Kathy Crabtree, an accomplished potter and co-founder of Local Color. After Kathy passed away, her friends and family wanted to do something to honor her memory, and so they created pottery bowls and held a soup dinner fundraiser. They money raised was donated to local charities, and the initial Bowls of Sharing fundraiser was born.
According to Melinda Baas, executive director of the YWCA of Sweetwater County, the funds raised at that initial event were given to the Soup Kitchen in Rock Springs. After a second successful year of the event, the profits were divided between the YWCA and the Soup Kitchen. The event continued to grow each year, eventually outgrowing the original location in the Saint Cyril and Methodius Parish Center in Rock Springs. This led to the creation of the popular "bowl parties" where individuals and groups could paint their own pre-made bowl to bring to the event.
Baas also shared that in October 2014 the Bowls of Sharing Committee decided they could no longer dedicate the time and hard work it took to produce such an event.
"It was passed along to the YWCA of Sweetwater County and is now called Bowls of Caring," Baas explained. The name had to be changed as the former name was associated with that committee's federal tax identification number.
From 2014 through 2019, YWCA continued to organize and operate the bowl panting parties, allowing people to make their own bowls to keep, with the finale being a soup dinner at Sweetwater Events Complex.
"Dozens of volunteers gave their time to help set up, run and serve soup at the final dinner. When COVID hit, the event temporarily shut down for 2020 to 2021," Bass explained.
Bass said following the COVID hiatus in 2022, the YWCA realized that what people loved most about the event was actually getting to paint the bowls.
The event was again revised to no longer include the soup dinner but simply painting parties. YWCA also allowed individuals to take a kit home to host their own bowl party with their friends.
"It proved very popular for the next two years," Baas said.
With every beginning, there is an end, and sadly after 10 years the YWCA staffing has changed to no longer be able to accommodate and manage all the various bowl parties.
Bass reflected on this being the last year of the event.
"We feel it is now our turn to say the event has come to an end," she said. "We know how many people love and will miss this event, but we feel it is time. This year we had enough stock left over that we could host a few large group parties and give people one more chance to paint with Bowls of Caring. We have enjoyed seeing all the creativity over the years and how many people love this event. There are many people who have painted year after year, and we have enjoyed seeing them each year and seeing how their designs change. Thank you for all your support all these years. We will miss you."
For those who are interested in continuing support of the YWCA of Sweetwater County, they will be hosting 10 years of the "Run with the Badges" event in support of Sexual Assault Awareness. You can find more information about the organization and upcoming events by visiting ywcasweetwater.org.
Reader Comments(0)