On April 5, the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club and Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts held the 22nd annual Soup Bowl Supper at the American Legion Hall on Industrial Park Drive in Boothbay.

The event's proceeds were being divided equally between Rebuilding Together and Watershed. About an hour before the event's start, a line of people were already waiting to choose the prettiest handmade pottery bowl for their soup. The bowls are made by potters at the Watershed Ceramic Arts Center in Edgecomb and Newcastle.

Sally Barter of Rebuilding Together thanked the crowd and explained that the organization will refurbish around 22 homes in Lincoln County on May 5. She made a plea for volunteers and offered forms to anyone interested. “It’s a lot of fun, we have a great lunch, everybody has a blast, we get our projects done, and we make a lot of people very, very happy,” she said.

Next, Watershed Executive Director Fran Rudoff said, “Most of you who have been coming year after year know that we’re a wonderful ceramic arts center, just up the road. We’ve been doing this with you for 22 years, and we have close to 100 artists who come to Watershed from all over the country every summer, and every summer they make bowls and leave them here for this supper, so you’re probably eating from bowls from California, and Ohio, and Texas, and North Carolina, and all kinds of places.”

Rotary member and event coordinator Irene Fowle said 198 people attended, and 190 handmade pottery bowls were on hand. With a huge selection of soups, stews, chowders and chilis, and breads, salads and desserts, people were invited to refill their bowls and plates as many times as they wished.

Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club President Jonathan Tindal thanked Fowle and her crew for hosting the event. He said this was the second year the Rotary and Watershed had collaborated with Rebuilding Together for the event. “It’s proven to be a great opportunity to do some joint fundraising and help out another wonderful nonprofit in our community.”

After people ate, numbers were drawn for prizes donated by Dan’s Auto, Good ’N You, G & G Towing & Quick Service, Conley’s, Boothbay Region Greenhouses, and NAPA Auto Parts.

Local restaurants and chefs prepared and donated the food. The ceramic bowls the diners choose and get to take home are made and contributed by Watershed artists, Maine potters and high school student-volunteers.

For more information, visit www.watershedceramics.org/events/soup-bowl-supper and  www.boothbayharborrotary.org/