Fill the Bowl

COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Residents at Dunlop House handcrafted ceramic bowls to the community to benefit the Colonial Heights Food Pantry at the assisted living facility’s first “Fill the Bowl” fundraiser.

About 40 bowls were distributed among guests on Jan. 26. For $20, guests received a bowl handpainted by one of the residents as well as dinner. A cider and cheese reception began at 6:30 p.m. followed by the soup dinner at 7 p.m.

“The bowls were actually pre-made, but our residents painted and glazed the bowls and then we had some volunteers from some local high schools that work in the art departments that took them and fired them for us so that they are safe to eat out of,” said Stacey Bowen, administrator at Dunlop House.

The fundraiser is a part of Dunlop’s continuing commitment to community engagement and service.

The residents painted the bowls as a part of their activities programming that took place over the past month.

“They took a lot of pride in that (painting the bowls themselves),” Bowen said. “It wasn’t just throwing the paint on the bowls, they wanted it to be theirs and for someone to enjoy it.”

Bowen said the bowls were made by residents in both the assisted living and the memory care units.

“That was great because they got to all work together,” she said. They had a good time.”

Abby Lynch, a board member of the Colonial Heights Food Pantry, said the pantry is grateful for Dunlop House’s donation.

“It’s a great partnership with Dunlop,” Lynch said. “I know Dunlop takes very good care of the food pantry so we’re definitely appreciative of that.”

Lynch said the food pantry is always in need of donations, whether it be monetary or food related.

“It’s amazing what the food pantry can do with a dollar,” Lynch said. “We go and spend a dollar on a can of food, but (the pantry) buys food by the pound and so they can do a lot more with a dollar.”

Longtime Colonial Heights resident Becky Joyner was glad to attend the dinner to support both Dunlop House and the Colonial Heights Food Pantry.

“I try to support everything that the Dunlop House sponsors or allows the community to be a part of because they just have so many fun, cool things and it allows the community to be involved,” Joyner said.

Bowen believes ticket sales weren’t as high as expected due to winter snowstorm Jonas that hit the day of the deadline for tickets. Dunlop has 40 extra bowls that Bowen said they will save for a future fundraiser.

• Shelby Mertens may be reached at 804-722-5154 or smertens@progress-index.com