Since 1990 Empty Bowls has been a grassroots movement of artists in towns and cities around the world helping fund food banks in their local communities. Through the event organizer’s efforts, and the help of other non-profit charities, businesses, and local citizens, Empty Bowls has raised and distributed funds worldwide to help stamp out hunger. “Think globally, act locally, change the world” is their goal.
Prescott citizens have been supporting their own Empty Bowls movement since 1997. Prescott Empty Bowls is organized by the Prescott Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (PUUF) and Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation (GPUUC). This year is their Silver Anniversary and they are pulling out all the stops to celebrate this event Sunday, September 18 from 11 am – 2 pm on the Prescott Court House Square!
In addition to $20.00 for a locally handcrafted bowl and 2 servings of soup from 14 different restaurants, there will be 25th-anniversary tote bags and T-shirts with the 25th year of Empty Bowls design. This year’s design is the winning submission, out of 72 submitted by Prescott High School students, by Dylan Jay Robertson. There will be a special raffle of three silver-enhanced works of art as well. “We are thrilled to have three Silver Sponsors levels this year; Silver Bowl, Silver Ladle, and Silver Spoon. These sponsors have already contributed over $6,000 and will be recognized at our event,” commented Kelsey Wilkes, Empty Bowls Chairperson.
In addition to filling empty bowls, a collaborative endeavor by Slow Food Prescott, The Prescott Farmers Market, The Yavapai County Extension Service, Delicious Earth Farm and the GPUUC Green Team, will put the spotlight on food justice with an educational program: “Waste Not. Want Not. Prescott reduces food waste so no community member faces an empty bowl.” This program will be presented at the event and on the web-site: https://prescott-empty-bowls.square.site/