Bowls of Hope event helps fight hunger in the community

By Ian Swaby
| 1:45 p.m. November 11, 2025

A team from the community of Heritage Oaks volunteered at the event and included Sandi Merrill, Pauline St. Martin, Gary Chapin, Sheri Abramson, Alice Chapin, Ruth Scribner, Steve Ronis, Linda Trageser and Sharon Boss.

Sarasota
Neighbors

The federal government shutdown that began on Oct. 1 has posed challenges for the community with the lapse of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in the state of Florida at the start of November.

That was one area in which an annual Sarasota event — the Bowls of Hope event by All Faiths Food Bank — continued to help meet the needs of a community with already high rates of food insecurity.

Held Nov. 9 at Ed Smith Stadium, the event brought the community together to enjoy bowls of soup and other foods from nearly 50 local restaurants, with the option to purchase handmade bowls amid live crafting demonstrations Sarasota Woodturners and Sarasota Clay Company.

As the event was underway, All Faiths Food Bank CEO Nelle Miller said guests were still showing up to buy tickets at the door, while the event usually hosts 1,200 to 1,500 people.

She also said the food bank had been receiving unpredictable levels of customers, with many people showing up at distributions without having pre-registered.

"There's a lot of, I would call it almost panic, among the community that's food insecure, because they really are stuck at this point," Miller said.

She said those recipients will receive a box of food to meet their needs for the next couple of days, as well as a list of places they can go for their other needs.

Currently, a bill that would end the government shutdown has passed the Senate and is on the way to the House for a final vote.

However, Miller said during the event that even when the shutdown ends, a lag will still be present, including for local retailers who have lost some of their customers.

"We're walking around and just talking about it, and it's great to be able to talk about it, and so people anticipate this event every year, and it's very well attended, but they're more determined now to be generous and to learn about what's happening and how they can help," she said.

She highlighted the contributions of the restaurants, which all donate their food and time for the event, as well as the Baltimore Orioles, who lend the use of Ed Smith Stadium each year.

Andrew Mack and Patty Miller serve soup to Carole Gorin.

Lisa Klein, Laurel Klein, 16, and Laila Karp, 14, of the National Charity League

Michael Koolkin browses the bowls on display.

Paula Evans and Jan Gannon talk with Jim Shafer.

Sarasota's Danielle Sammelman, her son Jude Sammelman, 12, and husband Nick Sammelman, offered a taste of Focaccia Sandwich and Bakery.

Lynn Johannesen talks with John Schmidt and Sheri Gensler.

Joseph Matthews of Sarasota Clay Company creates a bowl on site at the event.

Michael Kulaw and Amanda Kulaw, Lee Ann Moody, Karloon and Karyn Ng, and Sharon Kane gather around a table.

Alessi Keen and Skyler Keen, 1, carry a bowl as they walk through the event.

Sarasota County commissioner Mark Smith and his wife Esther Smith

Grady Bernas, 10, and Avery Bernas, 12, look over the bowls.

Christy Palenske looks on as Mark Koplau stirs soup.

Ava Van Leer, Chloe Crabtree, Payton Stuart, Lyla Ochsendorf and Jessie Ochsendorf of National Charity League hang out with The Oriole Bird.

Bowls made by kids are set out for purchase.

Stephen Johns and Franck Johannesen, founder of Sarasota Woodturners.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.