ROCK SPRINGS — Rock Springs Mayor Carl Demshar recently presented Bowls of Sharing committee members with a donation for their upcoming event. “This fundraising event really brings out the best in everyone. So many individuals and organizations come together and show their generosity. It makes me proud to be a part of this community,” Demshar said.

Bowls of Sharing is a non-profit organization which raises funds for the Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen and the YWCA Support and Safe House, explained Phyllis Nordwall, President and one of the organizers of the group. She said Bowls of Sharing started in 2004, in memory of her beloved friend, Kathy Crabtree. Ten years later, the organization is still going strong and helping keep Crabtree’s memory alive with their yearly fundraising dinner. Crabtree, one of the founders of the Local Color gallery in Rock Springs, passed away from Cushing’s Syndrome in January, 2004.

For the Bowls of Sharing event, which will be held March 20, 2014, beginning at 4:30 pm, unique bowls are created by members of the community at “bowl parties,” said Vickie Kendall, secretary of the organization. Over 1,000 bowls are painted and then fired in a kiln for 24 hours to bake the glaze in, she explained.

To participate, purchase a $15 ‘soup ticket’ from Our Brother’s Keeper Bookstore then select a handcrafted bowl from their extensive collection. With the purchase of a bowl comes a ticket for a free meal of soup, salad, bread, dessert and drink. In addition, $5 tickets for children 10 and under are available which entitles them to just the meal.  Take the ticket and your bowl to the Sweetwater Events Center night of the Bowls of Sharing dinner to enjoy an evening full of family fun including the dinner, raffles, auctions and games for children.

Area artisans, organizations, businesses and individuals donate prizes for raffles held the night of the Bowls of Sharing, said Kendall.  Bowls and dinner tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased anytime, but only 1,000 tickets are available, Kendall explained. “It’s a good idea to get your ticket early in preparation for the event,” she advised.

“I encourage everyone to attend this great community event,” Demshar said. “Residents in Sweetwater County work hard to help others and this organization is testimony to that. Everyone can help in some way – by attending, volunteering or providing a donation. It takes a lot of dedicated individuals to make something like this happen,” he said.