A good bowl of soup can make a person feel all warm inside in more ways than one. Getting to keep the one-of-a-kind bowl created by a local artist, well, that’s all gravy. Thursday, April 4, 6-8 p.m., is the 15th annual Salvation Army Empty Bowl fundraiser at L’auberge Casino Resort. Tickets are $125 per guest and all proceeds support The Salvation Army’s local programs to provide food shelter and financial assistance to those in crisis.

 Attendees to this year’s Empty Bowl fundraiser can sample each of the soups donated by local restaurants including Southern Spice, Tad’s Southern Cooking and Sowela Culinary Arts Department.

All of the 550 handcrafted bowls were designed specifically for the event by local artists Rex Alexander, Julie Dallas, and Tom Yoder. Some were crafted by Sulphur High School students, led by instructor Adrienne Romero.

 “We are a community that comes together when there is a crisis, and it is often weather-related,” said Lt. Roslyn Morrison, Commanding Officer for The Salvation Army. “However, today, we are experiencing a more silent and pervasive crisis.”

 Morrison said inflation and current economic conditions have resulted in a big increase in requests for services. Founder William Booth laid the groundwork of “Soup, Soap and Salvation over 150 years ago. When we feed someone (SOUP) and take care of their basic needs and human dignity (SOAP), they will be more receptive to the Gospel and love of Christ (Salvation), explained Morrison.