Some time ago I was taken by an art class project in 1990 of a Michigan High School to raise funds for food banks, soup kitchens and support for organizations combating hunger.  The school project developed into “Empty Bowls”

From their website:

“Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement by artists and crafts people in cities and towns around the world to raise money for food related charities to care for and feed the hungry in their communities.  Empty Bowls supports food-related charitable organizations around the world, and has raised millions of dollars to help end hunger.”

This year I hope to return to the original concept where we  host a small exhibition/display where we  serve a meal of soup. Participants will choose (and purchase) a bowl for their soup and keep the bowl as a reminder of all of the empty bowls in our community and world.  Tentatively the event will be held on or near World Food Day which is celebrated every year worldwide on October 16 to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945. 

The idea is straight forward:

• I will create a number of chawans to be used as “Soup Bowls”. 
• Purchase an empty bowl to take home. 
• I will pass all of the proceeds  to the local Food Bank to help meet local needs.

I encourage everyone to be generous and remember the many “Empty Bowls” here and around the world.   

Thank you

Lane Borstad