Napa 'Empty Bowls' Fills Hearts And Raises Record $40K For Housing Resources

Sunday fundraiser supports food access, hunger relief, housing resources, and pathways to stability for families.

By Angela Woodall, Patch Staff

Sep 16, 2026 3:44 PM PDT | Updated Sep 16, 2026 4:09 PM PDT

Guests selected handcrafted bowls, shared a chef-prepared meal by Napa's La Toque, and helped raise a record $40,000 in Napa on Sunday at the Abode Empty Bowls fundraiser at the Westin Verasa hotel. (Michael Walker Photography/Abode Services)

NAPA VALLEY, CA — A simple ceramic bowl carried a powerful purpose Sunday, helping raise funds for Napa County residents experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

The fundraiser, Empty Bowls, raised a record $40,000, a crucial step to helping families.

The fundraiser paired that mission with the work of Napa County potters, who created handcrafted ceramic bowls for the event at the Westin Verasa hotel.

Guests purchased the bowls for $75 each and had them filled with dinner.

Chef Ken Frank, founder of La Toque, and fellow local chefs prepared the meal including five soups, salmon, focaccia, and dessert.

The result was a gathering that brought neighbors, supporters, and advocates together for an afternoon of food, beverages, handcrafted bowls, and conversations about homelessness in one of the California's most expensive regions.

The event began with Sam Tubiolo, artist and co-organizer.

Each handcrafted bowl is meant to remind guests about people facing uncertainty over their next meal and where they will sleep.

Proceeds support Abode Services and the South Napa Homeless Shelter.

The funds will help provide food access, hunger relief, housing resources, and pathways to stability for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Organizers also serve hot lunches at the South Napa Homeless Shelter every Thursday and Friday.

Abode — one of the Bay Area's largest providers of housing and services for people experiencing
homelessness — has been working in Napa County since 2017.

Executives said the money will expand awareness, deepen community engagement, and help more people find a place to call home.

Abode associate director of housing services for Napa and Sonoma counties, Ashley Jacobsen, holds one of the prize vessels on Sept. 16, 2026 at the Abode Empty Bowls fundraiser, which helped raise a record $40,000 for services in both locales. (Michael Walker Photography/Abode Services)

Sam Tubiolo, artist and co-organizer of the Empty Bowls event, with Alyssa Wieting, Abode Services VP of Fundraising and Communications. The hand-crafted bowls helped raise a record $40,000 on Sept. 13, 2026 to help families in Napa and Sonoma county. (Michael Walker Photography/Abode Services)