Rose Bowl Fundraiser Hosted by Rose Advocates
Rose Advocates is a local organization providing a confidential network of resources and advocacy for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Beginning in Weiser in 1988, they have since grown their network to include services in Adams, Payette, and Gem County, in addition to Washington County. Because they are a non profit organization, they rely heavily on fundraisers and donations to help fund their services, and every year they hold a special Rose Bowl Benefit Luncheon to support the organization. This year, Rose Advocates has a luncheon planned for every “Soup-er Thursday” in February, each week in a different county that they serve, starting in Weiser on February 8th, Payette February 15th, Council on February 22nd, and Emmett on February 29th!
Rose Advocates started holding their Rose Bowl fundraisers over 20 years ago in Weiser. Five years later they also brought it to Council as they expanded their services into Adams County. The idea for a soup bowl started when some local potters thought they could make bowls and donate them to the organization, and today all the pottery bowls are still handmade locally by artists who wanted to donate to the cause. Included in the $12 ticket donation price is one of these beautiful hand thrown pottery bowls, which you can then fill up with all you can eat soup, which is also donated by local restaurants and individuals. In the past local restaurants in Adams County such as Sprockets, Seven Devils, Lakeys, and Granite Mountain Cafe have provided soup, as well as individuals in the community who wanted to donate. Everything is volunteer and donation based. “This Soup Bowl is just all profits, because we don’t have to pay a lot of money out,” said Rose Advocates Executive Director Veronica Vasquez. “This is a great fundraiser for Rose Advocates!”
In past years, many of the bowls for the Soup Bowl were made by students at the Treasure Valley Community College, but this year their program has not been as strong and they were unable to donate. Most of the bowls this year were made by two local potters, with some being made by a third, who lives out of the area but still wanted to donate. They have around 500 bowls to split between the four locations and are expecting to sell all of them. With the loss of the bowls provided by Treasure Valley Community College, however, they are concerned about whether they will have bowls for the next year, and are reaching out to other local artists. Victim Advocate for Adams County, TerRee Seward, has been brainstorming other ideas to find bowls for the future, and thought it would be fun to find a place for seniors or students to get together and work on pottery together. ”If anybody has a kiln or a pottery place…” she said.
The Council Rose Bowl Benefit Luncheon will be at the American Legion Hall on February 22, from 11-2:00 p.m. If you can’t make it in person to the Soup Bowl, Rose advocates is always looking for donations, and they also hold several other fundraisers throughout the year, including a golf tournament in Weiser, and their Benefit Dinner in October. They also participate in Idaho Gives. All of the proceeds from the fundraisers go towards victim services, things like food or gas cards, hotel stays, trips for forensic exams, or helping a family get established. This year in Council alone they helped 68 different clients, and the organization as a whole serves around 1000 people each year! They offer a wide variety of services including things like counseling and classes, advocacy and outreach, emergency shelters, support groups, help with paperwork and finding other resources, and a 24 hours crisis hotline.
Tickets to The Rose Bowl are available to reserve by calling any of the Rose Advocates offices. In Council, you can pick up tickets at their office at 101 Council Ave #122 or by calling (208) 253-4949 to reserve and pick up at the door. Soup will also be available to purchase to go if you can’t stay but would still like to get lunch and support a great cause. “It’s a great event!” said Veronica Vasquez. Everyone is encouraged to come, eat, and support a great cause! “A little bit goes a long way!”
