Empty Bowls
A Movement with Humble Beginnings
There is a story about a man who left this earth and was taken on a tour of the inner realms. He was shown a room where he saw a large group of hungry people trying to eat dinner. But because the spoons that they were trying to eat with were longer than their arms they remained frustrated. “This,” his guide told him, is hell.” That’s terrible exclaimed the man. Please show me heaven!”
“Very well” agreed the guide, and on they went. When they opened heaven’s door the man was perplexed to see what looked like the very same scene, there was a group of people with spoons longer than their arms. As he looked more closely, he saw happy faces and full tummies. For there was one important difference, the people in heaven had learned to feed each other.
Believe that we here on earth can learn to feed each other.
The Empty Bowls project was originally started by John Hartom and Lisa Blackburn in 1990. John and Lisa created the Imagine/Render Group. A 5013c nonprofit organization that has raised millions of dollars around the world in support of anti-hunger organization.
In Syracuse NY the Interreligious Food Consortium (IFC) Empty Bowls Event has been raising money and awareness about hunger in our community for over 19 years, starting in 2004 at Eureka Studios. It has grown to a large event housed at the Nancy Cantor Warehouse for the last several years. It easily is our largest fundraiser collecting usually over half of our annual budget at this one event. Normally we have over 1600 bowls provided by students and staff of the university, Clayscapes and other local artists.
Join the Empty Bowls Community Effort
Empty Bowls brings our community together to fight hunger — one bowl at a time.
For a $25 donation, guests can pick out a handmade bowl crafted by local artists, students, and volunteers, and enjoy a warm bowl of soup generously donated by one of our local restaurants.
It’s a simple but powerful idea:
Artists, potters, and students create beautiful, one-of-a-kind bowls.
Local restaurants contribute delicious soups for the event.
Volunteers and attendees come together to share a meal and make a difference.
Every guest keeps their handmade bowl as a reminder that, while their bowl is full today, someone else’s may not be — and that they have the power to help change that.
All proceeds are donated directly to the IFC, working to end hunger right here in our community.
From its humble beginnings, Empty Bowls has grown into a global movement — with events raising millions of dollars each year to support local food banks and hunger relief programs.
Join us in this meaningful tradition and be part of a community that cares.
Empty Bowls happens every fall, usually the last Friday in September or the first Friday in October. Stay tuned for details on Empty Bowls 2026 — coming soon!
Together We’re Fighting Hunger — Thank You to Our Restaurant Partners
Local flavors, big impact — thank you for nourishing both our community and our mission.
