The Empty Bowls Project

Despite the best efforts of organizations like Winnipeg Harvest, the sad reality is thousands of people go without enough food. As a reminder of all of the empty bowls in the world—and right here in Manitoba—Winnipeg Harvest created the Empty Bowls project to help those in need in our community.

Local elementary school art teachers talk about hunger and poverty with their students, then arrange for the students to design, make and decorate clay bowls, which are glazed and put on display. Later, the teachers and students organize a community supper at their school, during which guests have the opportunity to take home a decorated bowl in exchange for a donation to Winnipeg Harvest.

The Empty Bowl Celebrity Auction and Gala expands on the idea and has celebrities, humanitarians and business leaders from around the world sign or decorate a bowl to help with Winnipeg Harvest’s fundraising efforts. Last year’s event raised more than $235,000 and saw celebrities like Muhammad Ali, Celine Dion, Martha Stewart and Elton John personally sign or decorate bowls. A few of 2010’s anticipated donors include John Travolta, Romeo Dallaire, Margaret Atwood and Whoopi Goldberg.

For more information about Empty Bowls, contact Winnipeg Harvest founder Lee Newton at (204) 982-3672 or by email at lee.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .