By Carmen Rodgers
Elmore/Autauga News
Saturday’s cold and rainy weather made it a perfect day for a bowl of soup, which was on the menu at the Prattauga Art Guild’s annual Art with a Heart Fundraiser. The fundraiser ran from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Prattville Creative Arts Center, located at 342 S. Chestnut St.
Not only was Art with a Heart a fundraiser that helped restock the shelves of the AICC Food Bank following a busy holiday season, but it was also a soup cookoff. Local soup connoisseurs prepared their best recipes and competed for the Golden Bowl, the Silver Ladle, and the People’s Choice Awards.
“This is our annual fundraiser for the AICC, which is Autauga Interfaith Care Center and for their food bank,” Coordinator Cultural Arts and Special Events City of Prattville Barbara Simpson, said.
This fundraiser also incorporates local artists.
“We have bowls that were created by local artists, and members of the community that just want to be a part of this fundraiser,” Simpson said. “If you make a donation to the AICC you get a handmade bowl, and a cup of soup from one of our local sponsors.”
This year, Jim N Nick’s BBQ, Panera Bread, Chick-fil-a, Chappy’s Deli, and Longhorn Steakhouse sponsored the Art with a Heart Fundraiser.
In addition to the hearty soups provided by sponsors, there were also homemade soups available.
“We have homemade soups that some of our members brought in for the soup cookout,” Simpson said.
The homemade soups were judged. It was Katheryn Cuthbertson’s loaded potato soup that won The People’s Choice Award. Ken Carter took the Golden Bowl Award with chicken Brunswick stew. Barbara Simpson took the Silver Ladle Award with her chicken tortilla soup.
While the judged soups were homemade, and most of them made from secret recipes, Ken Carter admits that while he has mastered it, the recipe is not his own.
“I stole it fair and square,” he said with a chuckle.
In its second year, this fundraiser not only helps an important organization, it also unites the community.
“It also brings a lot of people together,” Simpson said. “People who are not artists come in and help make bowls because people from the community come in and they have fun throwing clay and playing with the clay. And then all proceeds go to the AICC.”
At the Prattville Creative Arts Center and Gallery, art classes and workshops are available for children and adults. There is also an art gallery filled with exhibits highlighting guest artists, and local and regional artist members of the Prattauga Art Guild.
For more information, call 334-595-0854.
