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Lakewood Ranch's Carol Edwards dances between serving bowls of soup. "It's a great day to be out here in the sunshine supporting a good cause," she says. (Photos by Liz Ramos)
Country Club's Karen and Richard Plotkin have fun, and some difficulty, picking out their bowls. "They're gorgeous," Karen Plotkin says. "Every one is more beautiful than the other."
Bowls come in all shapes and sizes.
Heritage Harbour's Mike Neville serves Manhattan clam chowder from the Grove.
Handmade bowls are on display for people to choose before picking their soups.
Sarasota's Kathryn Loveland couldn't wait to pick out her bowl. It was her first time attending Empty Bowls.
Palmetto's Brenda Murphy chooses a bowl that has hearts carved along the side and "made with love" imprinted at the bottom of the bowl.
Sarasota's Sarah Kempf serves up a bowl of chicken noodle soup.
Shamya Andrews and Frances Saez, culinary students at Manatee Technical College, serve tomato bisque during the 2022 Empty Bowls.
Photo by Liz RamosBradenton's Dave Bullock and Mill Creek's Rae Dowling try samples of soup. "I'm enjoying supporting the event for the community," Dowling says. Bullock adds, "I'm enjoying the food."
Dozens of people enjoy their soup in the shade on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.
Volunteers line up to serve soup.
Maribeth Phillips, the president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, and Tara's John McMillen have fun during Empty Bowls.
Sarasota's Stephanie Grepling and Lakewood Ranch's Zita Grepling say Empty Bowls is an awesome event. "The camaraderie is great, and there's so much excitement," Zita Grepling says. They both took home bowls of curry chicken.
Lakewood Ranch's Cindy Carter gave a thumbs up to her sample of beer cheese soup.
She sampled three small cups of the 15 soups available at Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee's Empty Bowls fundraiser on Nov. 4 on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch before choosing which soup she would like.
"This is the place to be," Carter said of Empty Bowls. "It's my first time. I wanted to support Meals on Wheels. It's a great organization."
Before tasting the various soups, those who attended perused tables filled with handmade bowls and picked one to take home.
Country Club's Richard and Karen Plotkin kept picking up bowls and putting them back because they would find one they liked more.
"They're gorgeous," Karen Plotkin said. "Every one is more beautiful than the other."