The 23rd Annual Empty Bowls Dinner will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Landmark College in Putney.
PHOTO PROVIDED
The Oct. 10 fundraiser at Landmark College will serve local soups and help Foodworks provide groceries with choice and dignity.
BRATTLEBORO — For 23 years, Empty Bowls has brought southern Vermont together around a simple idea: sharing a meal can help ensure that our neighbors have food on their tables, too.
The 23rd Annual Empty Bowls Dinner returns Saturday, Oct. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Landmark College in Putney, benefiting Foodworks, Groundworks Collaborative’s free-choice grocery program serving individuals and families experiencing food insecurity throughout the region. Last year alone, Foodworks served 4,767 individuals, including 1,206 children, across more than 12,000 shopping visits.
The 23rd Annual Empty Bowls Dinner will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Landmark College in Putney.
PHOTO PROVIDED
At Foodworks, access to food is about more than filling a grocery bag. Shoppers choose the foods that work for their households, dietary needs, cultures and traditions — which advocates say brings dignity and choice to an experience that can otherwise be difficult.
“Foodworks has become so much more than a place to access groceries,” said Libby Bennett, executive director of Groundworks Collaborative, in a release. “Over time, it has also become a place of connection and belonging, where shoppers and staff exchange recipes, share food traditions and cultures, and build relationships. As the need continues to grow, we have an opportunity to think just as intentionally about the future of Foodworks — creating a space that better serves shoppers and reflects the dignity, choice, and sense of community that already exist there. Empty Bowls helps us meet the needs of our neighbors today while also investing in what Foodworks can become.”
Local Kitchens Fill the Bowls
Every bowl at this year’s Empty Bowls Dinner begins with a local kitchen. Area restaurants and businesses donate their favorite soups, turning the evening into a tasting tour of fall favorites made right here in the community.
“Empty Bowls is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together over a simple meal and recognize what neighbors can accomplish when we gather around a shared purpose,” said Sarah Habeck, Foodworks coordinator, in a statement. “For those of us who see the impact of Foodworks every day, it means so much to see hundreds of people gather around the table in support of our shoppers. Every ticket, every bowl and every pot of soup helps us continue providing food with the choice and dignity our neighbors deserve.”
Organizer note that fall is one of the busiest times of year for many of these businesses, making their generosity all the more meaningful. This year’s participating restaurants are Brattleboro Food Co-op, The Restaurant at Burdick’s, Chartwells at Landmark College, The Fat Crow, Guilford Country Store, The Marina, Max Magen, New England House, Newfane Country Store, The Putney Diner, Saffron Restaurant, Vegan A.F., and Vermont Country Deli.
“Empty Bowls is a true collaboration with our local restaurants, who open their kitchens and share their signature soups with the community,” said Groundworks Development Coordinator Julianne Mills. “Each brings its own flavor and story to the table. Their generosity helps make this evening possible, and we hope our guests will return that support by keeping these local businesses in mind the next time they dine out.”
The event is also made possible through the support of sponsors including Birchmore Builders, Abatem Exterminating, Trust Company of Vermont, Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors, Mathes Hulme Builders, All About Trees, Against the Grain Gourmet, Apple Tree Builders, Brattleboro Tire, Brattleboro Savings & Loan, Community Bank, Duncan Wisniewski, Guilford Community Church, Savings Bank of Walpole, Southern Vermont Solar, Thrifting New England, Beadniks, Healing Rocks!, Members 1st, The Richards Group, Wessell Distributing, and 802 Credit Union.
A bowl to take home — and an impact that continues
Guests purchase a ticket and select a one-of-a-kind handmade bowl, crafted and donated by local potters, to take home. The evening features locally made soups accompanied by bread, cheese, and an apple.
The empty bowl guests carry home is a reminder that food is a basic need — and that ensuring access to it is something a community can do together. Proceeds from the evening help keep Foodworks stocked throughout the year.
Adult tickets are $35 and may be purchased online or at the event. Youth tickets are $15 for ages 7–15, and children 6 and under attend free. Tickets can be purchased at GroundworksVT.org or at the event by cash or check.
“Those who are unable to join us for the dinner can still support Foodworks by purchasing a bowl — and they make thoughtful gifts!” said committee member Sara Ryan.
Individual bowls are $30 and are available at Brattleboro Food Co-op, Everyone’s Books, The Kitchen Sync, The Shoe Tree, Zephyr Designs, The Putney Food Co-op, The Putney Diner, and The Putney General Store.
For event information, contact JMills@GroundworksVT.org, call 802-302-8302, or visit GroundworksVT.org.
Dining and Cooking