23rd Annual Austin Empty Bowl Project Returns

AUSTIN, TX — The annual Austin Empty Bowl Project helping fight hunger in Central Texas returns this month.

The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Nov. 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Central Texas Food Bank, 6500 Metropolis Dr., in Austin. Now in its 23rd year of helping to fight hunger in Central Texas, this fun, pre-Thanksgiving Austin tradition benefits the Food Bank’s Kids Café program and Meals on Wheels Central Texas’ Meals for Kids.

As always, organizers noted, the Austin Empty Bowl Project is family-friendly and open to the public.

The Austin Empty Bowl Project is a non-profit organization created by potters to fight hunger throughout Central Texas. Here’s how it works: the potters create and donate bowls of all sizes, shapes, and colors. More than 30 restaurants and bakeries donate delicious soups and breads, and musicians donate their time and talent to entertain the crowd with live music.

Then, on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, friends and families come together to select and purchase a bowl for a donation of $25 (or two for $40), have it filled with soup, and enjoy the music and sense of community. Attendees get to keep their bowls as a reminder of those whose bowls are empty. There’s also a silent auction of bowls signed by such celebrities as Kevin Nealon (Saturday Night Live), Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights), Ron Franklin (sportscaster), Marcia Ball, Bob Schneider, Ben Crenshaw, Carlos Mencia, The Oatmeal, Chris Isaak, and Susan Gibson

Many attendees also collect the commemorative Austin Empty Bowl t-shirts, which feature a different design each year. The garments will be for sale at the event for just $15 each (vintage shirts will also be available for $10).

Avoid the Line – Attend the Preview Party

Love the Austin Empty Bowl Project, but want to avoid the line? Make plans to attend the Austin Empty Bowl Preview Party. This year’s Preview Party will be on Saturday, November 23rd, 2018, from 6 – 9 P.M. at Central Texas Food Bank, 6500 Metropolis Dr.

Preview Party guests will enjoy tastes of several gourmet soups, bread, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, beer and wine, door prizes and, of course, getting an early chance to select their Empty Bowls. Guests will also get first crack at bidding on the silent auction of celebrity and artist bowls. Bidding closes at 3:00 P.M. on Sunday. Preview Party tickets are $85 per person and are available online at austinemptybowl.org.