Silent auction to benefit charity

More than 100 artists from all over the country have donated their works for the sixth annual "Palette to Palate" silent action to benefit the Community Kitchen of Monroe County. Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on mediums including ceramics, painting, photography, sculpture, stained glass, jewelry and much more. \nAll proceeds from Saturday's auction will help fund the Community Kitchen's hunger-relief programs, which provided more than 125,000 meals in 2003.\nWhile viewing the art, participants will have the opportunity to sample refreshments from Bloomingfoods, sip wine from Oliver Winery or drink beer from the Bloomington Brewing Company. The event will also feature door prizes, raffles and live jazz and blues music from local musicians Carlyn Lindsey and Snake Doctor.\nThe "Palette to Palate" is currently in its sixth year and is the biggest yet, said Judy Lucas, chairman of the auction. \n"We have a variety of artists donating work each year so it's always changing," Lucas said.\nCommunity Kitchen has been serving warm meals in Monroe County since 1983. It offers two meals a day, from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at each of its two locations -- 917 S. Rogers St. and 1100 W. 11th. It also provides after-school meals for children in low-income families and delivers breakfast during the summer months. \nTim Clougher, assistant director of Community Kitchen, said 30 percent of the kids in Bloomington qualify for free lunches year-round.\n"During the summer, we deliver breakfast foods like bagels and orange juice," Clougher said. "Anyone can come here. You don't have to fill out any forms or sign up for anything, no questions asked." \n"Palette to Palate" is the Community Kitchen's primary source of fundraising, and because the program is a nonprofit organization, they must rely on funding and donations to stay open.\n "Last year, we made $73,000, and we're hoping to surpass that number this year," Clougher said. \nBloomington resident Barb Lund is one of several artists to donate a piece for this year's auction. Lund has donated her pottery to the Community Kitchen's auction for the last four years. \n"I love donating my art when it's for a good cause," Lund said.\nThe auction will run from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Fountain Square Ballroom at 320 W. Eighth St. Admission is $8 and a one can donation of food at the door. \nFor more information on "Palette to Palate" or Community Kitchen, visit its Web site at www.bloomington.in.us/~kitchen/ or call 332-0999.\n-- Contact staff writer Mike LaFollette at malafoll@indiana.edu.