More than 93 community members gathered at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 7, for the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, raising over $2,800 to support Meals on Wheels Fullerton and its mission to feed homebound residents.
After more than a decade of leadership by St. Paul congregants—following the event’s founding in 2014 by Carol Pankow with support from Meals on Wheels—the tradition has been passed to the Women’s Club of Fullerton (WCOF). This year marked the club’s first time hosting the beloved community event.
Guests enjoyed a simple yet meaningful meal of their choice of five soups, with refills, along with rolls and dessert. Participating restaurants included Fratallino’s, Les Amis, Rutabegorz, Mulberry Street Ristorante, and B&C Burgers, all of which generously donated their soups. Each attendee also received a hand-crafted ceramic bowl to take home, created by students from El Dorado High School, Esperanza High School, Valencia High School, and OLLI students—a tangible reminder of their contribution to fighting hunger. Student volunteers from the National Charity League assisted in serving soup alongside members of the WCOF and Meals on Wheels volunteers.
The warm, welcoming fellowship hall at St. Paul created a cozy atmosphere that fostered connection and community. Attendees lingered over their meals, returning for seconds and sharing conversation with neighbors and volunteers alike…