The remainders of silent auction items have been delivered, a million thank you letters have been written, 100 gallons of soup was scooped out for 391 attendees, and another record year has been finalized for Project ECHO’s 12th Annual Empty Bowl Supper. The outreach of our community to support the ECHO House was once again overwhelming.

The Empty Bowl Supper demonstrates a true community and ecumenical event. Between the hundreds of behind the scenes volunteer hours of the board of directors and committee members to those who donated food, auction items, or purchased program advertising, it’s difficult to measure which aspect is more important than the next. The showing of attendants and “game day” volunteers who took joy in breaking bread together is something only to be explained if witnessed by your own eyes.

On behalf of the board of directors and those we serve, we thank the community for your outpouring of generosity to support the homeless and the shelter. Simple words cannot say “thank you” enough to you and your kind hearts.

Trisha Gipson, Prince Frederick

The writer is the executive director of Project ECHO.