Empty Bowls Camas event raises $27,000 for Inter-Faith Treasure House

The annual arts and food event was sold out and became the largest fundraiser in Empty Bowls Camas history, with proceeds going to Inter-Faith Treasure House, a food bank for Camas and Washougal

The Empty Bowls Camas team announced last week that its 2025 community fundraiser raised $27,000 for Inter-Faith Treasure House, Camas and Washougal’s only full-service food bank.

The total represents a 100 percent increase over last year’s event and marks the largest fundraising year in Empty Bowls Camas history.

Held in September, the sold-out event welcomed more than 500 guests to an evening of handmade art, local food, and community generosity. Restaurants including Feast 316, Cafe Yumm, Roots, and Tommy O’s served signature soups from Moroccan Harira to Butternut Squash Ginger Soup, transforming a shared meal into a statement of care for neighbors in need.

“What started two years ago as a simple idea combining soup, handmade pottery, and community has become one of Camas’s most meaningful traditions,” said Jamie St. Clair, event director for Empty Bowls Camas. “We’re grateful to every sponsor, restaurant, potter, volunteer, and attendee who helped make this year such an incredible success. Together, we’re turning art and generosity into meals for our neighbors.”

Local businesses powered much of that success. MALT served as Title Sponsor, joined by Evergreen Home Loans, OnPoint Community Credit Union, and Columbia Credit Union as sustaining partners. Creative contributors such as St. Clair Ceramics, Tipsy Chicks, and Wintzer Acupuncture helped anchor this year’s event, alongside dozens of volunteers and artists who donated their time and craft.

The $27,000 presented to Treasure House this year will directly support programs that reach thousands of local residents. Each month, the organization distributes roughly 450 food boxes, feeding more than 1,300 people and supplying over 135,000 pounds of groceries. Another 2,000 local residents stop by for daily free food, and more than 100 students in nearby school districts receive weekend meals through the backpack program. The 2025 donation will sustain a significant share of those efforts, helping keep shelves stocked and families supported through the winter season.

“This check represents more than just dollars. It represents hope, compassion, and connection,” said Nancy Wilson, executive director of Inter-Faith Treasure House. “For over 50 years, our organization has stood in the gap for families in need. Thanks to events like Empty Bowls, we can continue meeting that need with dignity and care.”

Since 1969, Inter-Faith Treasure House has provided food, clothing, and essential goods to families across East Clark County. The check presentation celebrated both the record donation and the enduring spirit of volunteerism that defines the Camas community.

To learn more about Inter-Faith Treasure House’s mission or to get involved with next year’s Empty Bowls Camas event, visit https://emptybowlscamas.org/

For a video highlight of the event, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGT2jiTfl4U