2026 Empty Bowls Event
November 19, 2026 @ 5:00PM — 8:00PM Central Time (US & Canada) Add to Calendar
The Venue: 702 York St Manitowoc, WI 54220 Get Directions
BENEFITING GROW IT FORWARD'S MISSION TO END HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY!
Join us for our 4th Annual Empty Bowls Event supporting Grow It Forward's hunger programs, which provide more than 725,000 meals annually to children and families in Manitowoc County with insufficient access to the healthy foods they need to thrive.
📅 Thursday, November 19, 2026
🕐 Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 The Venue, 702 York Street, Manitowoc, WI
🎟️ Individual tickets: $50 each
🎉 This year, every dollar is doubled, and our Empty Bowls Event is where we celebrate the close of our $150,000 Matching Challenge — meaning every gift, pledge, and ticket purchased this year helps us reach twice the impact for families across Manitowoc County.
About Empty Bowls
Grow It Forward grows, prepares, and shares good food while building a stronger, more connected Manitowoc County — one seed, one meal, and one neighbor at a time. Empty Bowls is our signature annual celebration of that mission, bringing together neighbors, businesses, and community partners for an evening that directly funds our food pantry, community meals, garden, hydroponic farm, and youth meal programs.
🎟️ Individuals: Buy your ticket — $40 Early Bird, $50 General Admission
🤝 Business Sponsors: Become an Annual Partner — pledge levels from $250 to $5,000
🍽️ Donate a raffle or auction item
📣 Follow along: grow54220.com
In 1990 a high school art teacher in Michigan helped his students solve a problem. They were searching for a way to raise funds to support a food drive. What evolved was a class project to make ceramic bowls for a fundraising meal. Guests were served a simple meal of soup and bread, and were invited to keep the bowl as a reminder of hunger in the world.
By the following year the originators had developed this concept into Empty Bowls, a project to provide support for food banks, soup kitchens, and other organizations that fight hunger. The Imagine /RENDER Group, a 501(c)3 organization, was created to promote the project. Since then, Empty Bowls events have been held throughout the world, and millions of dollars have been raised to combat hunger.
As a participant of our event, you will also select a hand-painted and /or -crafted ceramic bowl designed by professional potters, school and university art classes, sample delicious soup and bread while listening to live music. As in Michigan, you will take the bowls home as a reminder that SOMEONE’S BOWL IS ALWAYS EMPTY.
With your Empty Bowls ticket:
- Choose a one-of-a-kind artisan-created bowl to keep.
- Enjoy delicious food and desserts.
- Groove with live music.
- Win cool stuff with raffles, a silent auction, and wine & dine pull!
- Celebrate our annual Cornucopia Award Winner.
Google "Empty Bowls" to see more about this worldwide movement!
A big thank you to our sponsors!
SOUP-er Hero Food Sponsor
