Schools
Zag Dining and Gonzaga Community Come Together for Empty Bowls Fundraiser
Annual fundraiser blends community, cuisine, and a shared mission to fight food insecurity
SPOKANE, WA — At Gonzaga University, students, staff, and community members gathered this week for the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, an event centered on raising awareness and support for food insecurity in the Spokane community.
Held on Wednesday, April 1, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the event was presented in partnership with the Gonzaga Center for Community Engagement. Guests purchased tickets—$25 for general admission and $15 for students—and received a handmade ceramic bowl as part of the experience, reinforcing the event’s connection to hunger awareness.
Attendees also enjoyed a chef-driven menu prepared by Zag Dining, featuring three handcrafted soups. Chef Ethan Little served Fire-Roasted Chili and Chicken Tortilla, Chef Cheyenne Middleton prepared Italian Minestrone, and Chef Samuel Plant offered Kingmaker Stew with beef, wild mushroom, and barley.
Zag Dining played a key role in supporting the event, contributing culinary expertise that helped shape both the menu and overall experience.
Proceeds from Empty Bowls supported Gonzaga Campus Kitchen, a student-led hunger relief program focused on food recovery, waste reduction, and community service. The program collects surplus food from campus dining operations, which is then repurposed by student volunteers into nutritious meals.
These meals are distributed to low-income senior housing communities, after-school programs, and shelters throughout Spokane, extending the impact of campus dining beyond university grounds.
Since 2005, Gonzaga Campus Kitchen has recovered more than 124,000 pounds of food, grown over 4,000 pounds of produce, and served more than 340,000 meals to individuals in need.
The Empty Bowls event reflects that work in action, serving as both a fundraiser and an awareness initiative addressing local food insecurity. “Empty Bowls brings attention to food insecurity while directly supporting the efforts of Gonzaga Campus Kitchen,” said Gabe McDonald, Marketing Coordinator for Zag Dining by Sodexo. “It’s an opportunity for the campus community to engage with the issue and contribute to a program making a measurable impact.”
Through collaboration between Zag Dining, student volunteers, and campus partners, the event reinforces a shared commitment to sustainability, food access, and community impact.
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