Southwest Louisiana residents are asked to dip their spoon into goodwill on May 12 for the Salvation Army’s Empty Bowl fundraiser at L’Auberge Casino Resort.

Founded on the principle of soup, soap and salvation, the Salvation Army is asking residents to join their fight against hunger and homelessness — issues that have only been exasperated by multiple weather-related events and a global pandemic that has pounded the area.

“We’re still working on rebuilding our homeless shelter, which was damaged during Hurricane Laura, but when it does reopen it will have about 64 beds for men, women and family units,” said Lt. Roslyn Morrison — who with her husband, Lt. Tim Morrison, has overseen the Lake Charles organization since June of 2021. “Before the storm, we had abut 32 beds and it was being renovated to have a veterans dorm and work-therapy rooms, but during renovations that’s when Laura decided to come. They had to halt that and we’re having to completely rebuild. It’s been gutted, has new walls, new floor, new everything. It’s been a process.”

She said the building’s plumbing and heating/air conditioning system have also been replaced and the goal is to reopen the shelter by the end of summer.

“It’s a big hope, I know,” she said. “We were hoping to have it complete by Christmas but that didn’t happen so we’re setting a new goal for ourselves.”

Morrison said when the couple transferred to the area, they were moved by the spirit and resiliency of the people of Southwest Louisiana.

“To have gone through Hurricane Laura less than two years ago and to see how everyone is rebuilding — and not just by themselves but coming together to help other people and other organizations rebuild — is something that is extraordinary,” she said. “My husband actually came down to Westlake to serve right after Laura from his command in Arkansas and when we got the call that we would be moving here, he drove me past all the places he was stationed during recovery.”

To say their first year stationed in a hurricane-ravaged region has been an adventure would be an understatement, Morrison — who hails from North Carolina — said with a laugh.

“I had just completed seminary college for officers in Atlanta and this is my first appointment,” Morrison said. “It has been a little chaotic for me, learning how to be an officer in a new place plus learning how to be a wife because we had just gotten married two weeks before we moved here. I’m not from Louisiana; this was actually my first time to ever be in Louisiana and already we’re calling it ‘home’. ”

It’s also her first time to plan a major fundraising campaign.

“Growing up my mom and dad did weddings and I’m really thankful I had that experience to help them with that because it taught me about organizational skills,” she said. “It’s been exciting but it’s also a little intimidating because we’re still meeting people in the community.”

Morrison said that while insurance is covering the costs to rebuild the shelter and furniture, the Empty Bowl fundraiser will help staff the facility, resupply linens, towels and toiletries to make it homey and help keep the program going for another year.

A Walmart Registry for Good has also been set up at https://www.walmart.com/registry/RR/a1a255a6-5613-458c-8a26-68d6d5c237cb for supplies that will be sent directly to the shelter.

Attendees to this year’s Empty Bowl fundraiser will get a sample of each of the soups offered and a hand-crafted bowl as a keepsake. This year’s soups will be provided by Toga Grill, Southern Spice, La Truffe Sauvage, Ben Herrera, L’Auberge and Sowela Technical Community College culinary students.

Morrison said all of the 550 handcrafted bowls that will be given out at the event were designed locally.

“They’re all handmade with love for this event,” she said. “They’re made by elementary students all the way up through college students and professional potters.”

She said attendees to the event — which is being co-chaired by Jean Mount Kamla and Willie Landry Mount — can also expect lots of laughs with a performance by Bean and Bailey, a family friendly comedy duo.

The event is set for 6-9 p.m. May 12 and tickets are $125 each at salvationarmylakecharles.org.

Other upcoming events sponsored by the local Salvation Army is a summer camp for those ages 7-17 in Lexington, Miss.; mobile Vacation Bible School day camps in Lake Charles, Westlake and Sulphur parks; and adult Bible studies on Wednesdays. For more information, call 337-433-4155.