Empty Bowls Detroit

Empty Bowls Detroit The event will be held at Shed 5 in Eastern Market where attendees will enjoy strolling about and sam

The empty bowls project is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger The brainchild of Michigan art teacher John Hartom over 25 years ago, Empty Bowls gives artisans,craftspeople,as well as churches,schools and youth groups the opportunity to make a personal difference in the fight against hunger in our communities. Fund raisers are held where a simple meal of soup and bread is served, a

nd everyone who attends goes home with a bowl as a reminder that someone's bowl is always empty. Empty Bowls Detroit is one such group that raises money specifically for the food programs of Cass Community Social Services, a Detroit based agency that works across the City in areas of concentrated poverty providing programs for food,health,housing and jobs. Throughout the year, Empty Bowls Detroit hosts workshops where members of the community, including youth,church and corporate groups, have the opportunity to join in fellowship while painting the bowls used at our events. We hold two events each spring an all ages family event at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church and a 21 and over event at Detroit's historic Eastern Market. Both events feature soups donated by area restaurants with the Eastern Market event attracting the City's hottest up and coming restaurants and eateries. Our 2017 Empty Bowls events raised over $35,000 for Cass Community Social Services

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11745 Rosa Parks Boulevard
Detroit, MI
48206

Telephone

+13134107177

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“Empty Bowls Detroit” raises money and awareness for the food program at Cass Community Social Services (CCSS), a Detroit-based agency dedicated to providing food, housing, health services, and job programs to those in need. Throughout the year, Empty Bowls Detroit hosts bowl painting workshops where members of the community including youth, church and corporate groups join in fellowship while painting bowls eventually displayed and used at our events. We hold two events each year: A family event at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church and a 21+ event at Detroit's Historic Eastern Market. Both events feature soups and bread, cheese, crackers, fruit, and desserts, generously donated by local restaurants, grocers, and merchants. While socializing and feasting, attendees wander through tables of hand-painted bowls in search of the bowl to take home as a reminder that someone’s bowl is always empty. We are looking forward to great success at this year’s event on March 9, 2018. We look forward to seeing you and we thank you for your support!

HISTORY:

Founded in 1990 when Michigan art teacher John Hartom, and wife Lisa Blackburn, challenged his high school art students to make 120 ceramic bowls and a personal difference. Hartom's students accepted the challenge and made enough bowls for the entire school staff to use as serving pieces for soup at the school fundraiser. Guests were given basic information about hunger and, to their surprise, were asked to keep their bowls as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. The reaction of the staff was telling. Hartom and Blackburn realized something very powerful had occurred. What was to be a one-time luncheon became an international grassroots effort to help fight hunger, thus starting The Empty Bowls Project.

Empty Bowls Detroit began in 2007 at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church with a youth group of vacation campers that painted 100 bowls and raised $500. In 2017, 11 years since we began, Empty Bowls Detroit attracted more than 600 attendees and raised more than $35,000 for CCSS. None of this would be possible without our generous volunteers, donors and sponsors. All ‘personnel’ are unpaid volunteers and we are proud to declare that 100% of all net proceeds are passed on to CCSS to feed those in need.