The second annual Empty Bowls fundraiser held Nov. 17 at St. Andrew's United Church was a big success, raising $9,020 for Square One.

Money raised will go to support unhoused individuals in Moose Jaw.

"Success in the light of having 151 tickets sold for the meal," said Square One Chair Della Ferguson. "Having lovely donations given for everything. Helping us cover all the costs. Having community gather. Having conversations, being lifted up around those who are unhoused and how to best support them. It was a tremendous day."

For $20, attendees received a bowl of soup created by a local restaurant and were able to go home with their bowl.

"We are so grateful for the chefs who created our soups for the Empty Bowl event," continued Ferguson. "We had Evolve Cafe, we had Kinsmen Cafe, The Mad Greek, Great Canadian Brewhouse and Soltopia. We had rave reviews from folks who had maybe even more than one bowl of soup and enjoyed it immensely."

Ferguson says the bowls that were donated were amazing.

"The YMCA youth mentorship program, they donated 13 bowls, and there's nothing like something that a youth has set their hand to and their heart. We had from the River Street Potters MudPie Girls, they created pottery bowls, like 58 of them. What a gift that was."

Janine Rivard also donated 18 bowls, with other bowls coming from St. Andrew's United Church and the Salvation Army.

"We had such a selection and we had smiling faces as people stood choosing which one they wanted to have," remarked Ferguson.

She noted they made a few changes this year that seemed to improve the event. One of those was moving it from Saturday to Friday.

"We went strictly being with it being the meal as opposed to having vendors just so we could have more room for that. We were hoping that we would draw on some of the working crew, that they would just pop in for their lunch and that's certainly what happened. We had bigger numbers and a great flow and we had it in a shorter format. People are so busy and we just were so grateful for the support."

Square One has set March 14 as the date for its second annual Walk for Warmth fundraiser. More details to come.

The Stronger Together campaign is also ongoing. Bill and Laurette Keen have created medal leaves which are available to purchase and engrave at Circle Medical Centre. The cost is $300 for gold, $200 for silver, and $100 for bronze.

More details can be found at https://www.squareonehousingmoosejaw.com/

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