Ina Garten, Whoopi Goldberg, and Glenn Close all got in on the action at the Austin Empty Bowl Project in 2013. Each of these celebrities decorated a bowl and contributed it to the collection of bowls crafted by Austin's own potters for this non-profit project. These bowls were all inspired by a small project began by an art teacher and his students in Michigan in the '90s. The art class decorated bowls and invited school faculty members to fill them with soup in return for a donation to the local food bank. The teachers were allowed to take the bowls home with them, keeping them on the shelves as a reminder of those who face an empty bowl every night.
The creative take on the food drive quickly spread throughout the country, and today Austin residents can get in on the fun. On November 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Linc's Marchesa Hall & Theatre, not too far from Lamar Union, the Austin Empty Bowl Project invites guests to pick a bowl. Local artisans have crafted a fun variety of bowls for this special event, and you can pick whichever one you like for $20—the money goes right to Kids Cafe, an offshoot of the Capital Area Food Bank. Volunteers will wash the bowl for you and fill it with flavorful soup crafted by area chefs, served along with warm bread. Enjoy live music while you feast and then bring your bowl home as a reminder of the local people you've helped feed.
Check out Austin Empty Bowl Project's website for more information about the organization and event.
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