Meals with Meaning: Gorge Soup and other groups host food events for good causes

At the end of the night, everyone at the dinner votes for their favorite business or nonprofit. The winner of the vote gets the ticket money (minus $7 for soup, bread, and minimal expenses).

Tickets can be purchased at brownpapertickets.com/event/880628.

The businesses chosen to present on Tuesday are:

“We are excited about each of these proposals because they are so varied, so well developed, and so interesting! This year’s Soup promises to be one of the most engaging and inspiring yet,” said organizer Julie O’Shea.

Tickets are still available, but with the announcement of presenters, but are expected to sell out quickly, according to O’Shea.

Solstice ‘Community Appreciation’ dinners

Continuing its Community Appreciation Campaign, Solstice Wood Fire Cafe & Bar is opening its doors and offering 15 percent of proceeds back to nonprofits and other organizations in the Community on Tuesday evenings this winter.

Normally closed on Tuesdays, Solstice welcomes groups to use its waterfront space fee-free for kickoffs, fundraisers, education nights or celebrations from 5-8 p.m. Solstice will prepare a wood fire pizza and salad buffet priced at $20 per person, or any menu requested. The cafe will serve local beer, wine and artisan cocktails from the bar, as well as its usual array of non-alcoholic drinks to guests. Nonprofits will then receive a check for 15 percent of the evening’s sales, as well as a fun, festive space to hold their event.

Area non-profits already booked to benefit from Solstice’s continuing Community Appreciation Campaign are:

Other nonprofit bookings are in the works. To book your Tuesday night, contact Natalie Price, Solstice Wood Fire Cafe and Bar catering director, 541-399-6605, solsticenatalie@gmail.com

St. Mary’s Ham Dinner and Bazaar Nov. 16

The annual St. Mary’s Ham Dinner and Bazaar will be held Sunday, Nov. 16, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in the basement of the Belmont Street church.

The bazaar opens at 9 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m., with dinner served from 3-6 p.m.

Dinner tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for children, and features homemade pie for dessert. The bazaar features a bake sale, country store, silent auction and can raffle with $1 tickets.

There is another larger raffle for $200 in Rosauers scrip, a $100 gift certificate to the Hood River Inn, and a Kindle Fire; tickets are $5 each or six for $20. You do not have to be present to win.

The ham dinner and bazaar has been a continuing event at St. Mary’s for over 50 years. It is sponsored by the Altar Society and involves many parishioners and friends.

Dine Out’ for Heart of Hospice Nov. 11

These restaurants will offer a portion of sales to benefit Heart of Hospice on Nov. 11, in honor of National Hospice Month:

Hood River: Divots, Egg River, The Mesquitery, New York City Sub Shop, Riverside, and Solstice Wood Fire Pizza; Burgerville and Casa el Mirador in The Dalles; Henni’s and Pioneer Pizza in White Salmon; Mo Java in Bingen; Balch Hotel in Dufur; and Big River Grill in Stevenson.

See www.HeartofHos-pice.org for details.

Empty Bowls dinner serves FISH Nov. 18

The third annual Empty Bowls Dinner is scheduled for Nov. 18 at 6:30 pm at Hood River Middle School. Hood River Valley High School students have made 150 bowls so there will be 150 tickets available this year. The event sold out last year with 100 participants. Mark Whitehead from Ahi Ohana Catering Co. is making some delicious soup with ingredients from the Gorge Grown Farmers Market. Pine Street Bakery is supplying the bread, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital is sponsoring the event, and Arts in Education of the Gorge is coordinating the affair.

All proceeds will go benefit FISH Food Bank as they complete its building project and transition into the new facility and begin providing more services for our community.