Empty Bowls

At this time of year, thoughts of Thanksgiving feasts tend to tinge when one considers those among us who will be forced to go without for yet another holiday season. Perhaps that is why, when local residents were recently asked to do their part to combat hunger both locally and globally, hundreds of people gladly raised their spoons and answered the call. Residents helped raise more than $6,500 at an ?Empty Bowls? soup dinner Nov. 14 at Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church.

More than 450 friends and members of Crescenta Valley United Methodist church turned out for the church?s annual Empty Bowls event on Nov. 14. Those in attendance were able to purchase handmade bowls made by students at the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge and instructor Mike Flower?s pottery class at Crescenta Valley High School, where 100 bowls were made. Over $6,500 was raised for Loaves of Fishes, based in Glendale; and the Ecumenical Council?s Friends in Deed House in Pasadena.

Q. Recent, local disasters like our wildfires and world-wide disasters like the devastating brush fires, dust storms, floods, prolonged drought, storms and cyclones in Australia, tsunamis hitting Samoa and earthquakes striking the Indonesian island of Sumatra have raised the need for financial assistance to support charities. However, in an article in the Christian Science Monitor this week, UNICEF Australia spokesman Martin Thomas fears there is a danger of “compassion fatigue,” that is, “so many instances of death and destruction seen on the TV news can produce a kind of emotional numbness.

Midday services at the Ananda Ashrama Temple in La Crescenta were the ideal cure to what turned out to be a hectic day at work Wednesday afternoon. This also explains why I made it to the temple for their 12:30 p.m. services with only two minutes to spare. As I arrived, I was greeted with the familiar scenery (although I did not see the family of deer that roams the grounds) as I’ve been to the Ashrama before. Immediately, I was in a quiet, forest-like setting. Every time I drive up to the Ashrama’s parking lot, I feel a sense of embarrassment at my car’s loud engine cutting like a knife through the quietness of the grounds.

At the 9.10.11 in 91011 event this weekend, residents of La Cañada Flintridge will celebrate the unique character of their city on a once-in-a-lifetime coincidence of the date and the local ZIP code. La Cañada Flintridge's ZIP code, 91011, is one of just four in the country composed of consecutive numbers, and this Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, will be the one time this century it matches the date. Local resident Todd Andrews, chair of the event's organizing committee, said that the idea for the celebration grew out of on offhand remark made at a cocktail party during the last year's holiday season.

More than 450 friends and members of Crescenta Valley United Methodist church turned out for the church?s annual Empty Bowls event on Nov. 14. Those in attendance were able to purchase handmade bowls made by students at the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge and instructor Mike Flower?s pottery class at Crescenta Valley High School, where 100 bowls were made. Over $6,500 was raised for Loaves of Fishes, based in Glendale; and the Ecumenical Council?s Friends in Deed House in Pasadena.

At this time of year, thoughts of Thanksgiving feasts tend to tinge when one considers those among us who will be forced to go without for yet another holiday season. Perhaps that is why, when local residents were recently asked to do their part to combat hunger both locally and globally, hundreds of people gladly raised their spoons and answered the call. Residents helped raise more than $6,500 at an ?Empty Bowls? soup dinner Nov. 14 at Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church.

Q. Recent, local disasters like our wildfires and world-wide disasters like the devastating brush fires, dust storms, floods, prolonged drought, storms and cyclones in Australia, tsunamis hitting Samoa and earthquakes striking the Indonesian island of Sumatra have raised the need for financial assistance to support charities. However, in an article in the Christian Science Monitor this week, UNICEF Australia spokesman Martin Thomas fears there is a danger of “compassion fatigue,” that is, “so many instances of death and destruction seen on the TV news can produce a kind of emotional numbness.