Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara has been named an honorary committee member for the First Annual Rotterdam Empty Bowls Dinner, a charitable event hosted by The Rotterdam Community Center, aimed at raising funds for neighbors in need. The event will take place at the Rotterdam Community Center, located at 705 Curry Road in Rotterdam, NY, on Friday, November 17th, at 6:30 pm.

In a unique culinary addition to the evening, Michael Santabarbara, the son of Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara and host of the YouTube channel "Autism Friendly Cooking with Chef Michael," will showcase his culinary talents by preparing a special soup for the occasion—Vegan Chickpea Soup.

Since its inception in June 2022, the Rotterdam Community Center has been a vital hub, providing support, learning opportunities, and a safe space for the people of Rotterdam and the Greater Schenectady area. The Center's combined programs have served an impressive 64,028 meals, welcomed 18,791 guests, and engaged 7,625 volunteer hours.

The First Annual Empty Bowls Dinner will feature twenty different soups contributed by local restaurants and chefs, including Tops American Grill, Broadway Lunch, Chez Nous, and the unique addition of Michael Santabarbara's Vegan Chickpea Soup. These delectable soups will be served alongside handcrafted bowls created by Tina Mathieu's fine arts students in the Mohonasen Central School District. While the hand-crafted bowls are already sold out, the community is invited to join the event for "soup-only" tickets at the door.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, November 17, 2023
• Time: 6:30pm
• Location: Rotterdam Community Center, located at 705 Curry Road in Rotterdam, NY