Home

The Animal Assistance League of Northwest Colorado has been named as the beneficiary of this year's Soup Bowl Supper fund-raiser. The proceeds will be used to rescue, treat and find homes for sick and injured animals that have no owners.

This is the fourth year for the Ceramic Artisans' fund-raiser, which received a record 21 applications from potential beneficiaries this year.

"Last year, we had 13 groups apply, and I thought that was a lot," Soup Bowl Supper co-chairwoman Deb Babcock said.

Among the applications were children's programs, alcohol counseling programs and at least three programs assisting Hispanic or English as a Second Language populations. Most of the groups cited "operating expenses" as the way the money would be used, but the Animal Assistance League painted a more specific picture of where the money would go. That's why it was chosen.

"I think that everybody could wrap their arms around this one," Babcock said. "Everyone just got really excited about helping to find a home for sick animals. That's really nice.

"The potters who help to organize the fund-raiser also got inspired thinking about all the pet dishes and animal-oriented silent auction items they could make for the event."

The date for the Soup Bowl Supper has not been set, but it will most likely be held in September. Potters will get together for a weekend in May at Blue Sky Pottery to throw 250 to 300 soup bowls to donate to the event.

Every attendee of the fund-raiser gets a handmade bowl filled with soup for the price of his or her ticket.

Last year's recipient, Yampa Valley Recycles, received almost $5,500, which was more than enough to buy a newspaper recycling unit for downtown Steamboat. It will be installed this summer.

-- To reach Autumn Phillips call 871-4210 or e-mail aphillips@steamboatpilot.com