On a day that most of America can overindulge in food and celebration – on Super Bowl Sunday – we wish to take the time to salute a December effort that focuses on a much different bowl.

For three hours on Dec. 7, hundreds of residents and volunteers took part in the Empty Bowls fund-raiser in Dunkirk that was spear-headed by the Chautauqua Area Potters. Homemade bowls could be purchased at the event for anywhere from $10 to $30.

“We were able to raise $20,000 (in 2012) for the event, which brought over 600 people,” local Empty Bowls coordinator Marv Bjurlin said. “Here in Fredonia-Dunkirk, we’re incredibly successful to raise as much (raised) in Syracuse.”

Adding to the community spirit of the event are the organizations and businesses that assist. Those include: culinary arts students at BOCES and their instructor, Chef David Caccamise, providing delicious soups; Tuscany Fresh Meats and Deli for the soup ingredients; culinary arts students at the Hewes BOCES and Chef Rusty Furdell for the cookies; bread provided by Better Baked Foods, and Tim Hortons for the coffee.

This past year, more than $19,000 was raised in the effort. The big winners in this are the area food pantries, including Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, which serves thousands of residents annually.

Without question, these results can truly be labeled with one word: super.