Home Suite Hope gives struggling families a hand-up continued from p.1 Empty Bowls emulates a soup kitchen where local chefs bring their homemade soups to taste. Those who attend choose a hand-painted bowl or mug, taste a variety of gourmet soups and then take the bowl/mug home as "a reminder of the renewed hope they have given to Halton's homeless," say organizers. This year's event is set for Sunday, Oct. 19 at St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School, 1080 Linbrook Rd., from noon-3 p.m. Tickets cost $60 for adults and $30 for children, aged five to 12, and can be purchased online at www.homesuitehope.org. The bowls used for the HSH event are decorated and painted at parties held weeks before across the community. Local business Crack Pot Studios has been part of Empty Bowls from the beginning, hosting painting parties where participants purchase a bowl for $15 and then donate it to Empty Bowls -- the proceeds then go to HSH. Wilma Spence, owner of Crack Pot Studios, has lived in Oakville more than 25 years and says she immediately liked the concept. "About eight years ago, a woman named Jodi French (who was part of the inaugural planning committee) walked into my studio and started telling me about the Empty Bowls concept and what they wanted to achieve," she said. "I saw and understood the need... and I have been a part of it ever since. It's important for me to give back to the community. It's supported me and my business since 1995, so as a business owner and resident, this is my way of saying `thank you.'" This year's event will feature the following 14 local soupers serving a variety of soups to please the palettes of participants, including: · Cora restaurant -- potato and bacon soup · Dana Hospitality -- Galbitang, a Korean beef short-rib soup · Dinner at Home Meals -- roasted corn chowder · Jennifer's Kitchen -- sweet potato soup with rum cream · Jonathans Fine Dining and J-Bistro -- lobster bisque · Kerr Street Café -- roasted Brussels sprout and Parmesan chowder with bacon and apple chips · Longo's -- red lentil and forest mushroom soups · Piazza Bistro -- sweet pea with smoked ham hock · St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School board of governors -- St. Mildred's lentil soup · The Oakville Club -- old-fashioned tomato soup · The Gingerman Social Eatery -- Mexican chicken tortilla and pumpkin spice soups · Seasons Restaurant -- sweet potato and butternut squash soup · Whole Foods Market -- build your own quinoa bowl · Yolanda's Spuntino Casa -- soup still to be determined Currently, HSH houses and supports 11 single parents and 17 children, and plans to increase to 15 families in the second rendition of its ReStart Halton program. The two-year program, introduced in 2012, offers housing and support services for up to two years with additional aftercare support. "It is focused on serving higher-needs participants, offering life-skills coaching, parenting, nutrition, financial and computer literacy, and job search readiness," stated a press release. HSH also offers a Homeward Bound Halton four-year program and had hoped to add five single mother-led families to it in 2014. The new program was launched earlier this year and replicates the successful Toronto program run by WoodGreen Community Services. It provides struggling single-parent families with a furnished apartment for up to four years and fully-funded daycare while each parent gets a college education, job internship opportunities and career placements. "Our three-year vision for growth is to support a total of 30 families -- 15 families in the ReStart Halton program and 15 in the Homeward Bound Halton program," stated the release. "This represents support services to approximately 75 individuals each year." 13 | Friday, October 10, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com COMMUNITY DAY 100% OF PROCEEDS TO SATURDAY MORNING OCTOBER 18, 2014 DOORS OPEN - 8:30AM MOVIES BEGINNING - 9:00AM FREE MOVIES! VISIT CINEPLEX.COM/COMMUNITYDAY FOR MORE INFORMATION $ SELECT CONCESSION ITEMS ONLY 2 EACH SUPPORTED BY: Seating is limited and not guaranteed. Seating is on a first come first served basis. Valid the morning of October 18, 2014 until 12pm only. M&M's. M&M's Character and M are Trademarks of Mars Canada Inc. 2014. SKITTLES, SKITTLES LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS OF WRIGLEY'S CANADA INC. © WRIGLEY'S CANADA INC., 2013. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TM/® Cineplex Entertainment LP or used under license. 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