To the editor: Family Center thanks all who had hand in Empty Bowls fundraiser

The Chester-Andover Family Center would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make our 2026 Empty Bowls fundraiser such a wonderful success.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we raised nearly $10,000 to support the work of the Chester-Andover Family Center and help us continue providing food, resources, and assistance to our neighbors.

We are grateful to everyone who attended, made a donation, purchased raffle tickets, participated in our auctions, or came out to enjoy an evening with friends and neighbors. Your support is what makes this event possible year after year.

We are so thankful to our financial sponsors and donors, the American Legion, and to the many restaurants, bakeries, businesses, and individuals who donated soups, breads, salads, desserts, and beverages. The wonderful food is such an important part of the Empty Bowls tradition, and we appreciate the time, effort, and resources that went into providing it.

We extend our gratitude to local businesses, artists, craftspeople, and community members who donated raffle basket items and live and silent auction offerings, bowls, and decorations.

To our volunteers, thank you for the countless hours spent planning, organizing, collecting donations, preparing the venue, setting up tables, serving food, selling raffle tickets, managing auctions, welcoming guests, and cleaning up afterward. We especially appreciate the students and young people who gave their time to help.

Empty Bowls is more than an important fundraiser. It is an opportunity to bring our community together around a shared purpose, and this year’s success is a wonderful example of what we can accomplish together.

To everyone who made Empty Bowls 2026 possible, thank you for supporting the Chester-Andover Family Center and the neighbors we serve.

With sincere appreciation,

The Board of Directors
The Chester-Andover Family Center