Together, we raised over $90,000 at the 2026 George Hieronymous Empty Bowl Project – an incredible reflection of what’s possible when a community chooses to care deeply for it’s people.
These funds will go directly toward supporting individuals and families experiences hunger, people who are working hard, navigating complex challenges, and deserving of access to nourishing food and meaningful support. Hunger doesn’t exist in isolation, and neither should the response.
Because of this collective effort, more people will have access to meals, resources, and pathways toward greater stability in their lives. That is what it looks like when compassion turns into action!
Held in Alaska since 1994, the Empty Bowl Project has brought together over 1,000 Alaskans each year as a grassroots initiative aimed at raising awareness and funds to combat hunger and remind everyone about the empty bowls in our community.
Local artists and community members create and donate handcrafted bowls. Attendees pay a ticket price, which includes soup and cornbread, live entertainment, kids activities and more!
At the heart of Bean’s Cafe’s Empty Bowl Project is the generosity and creativity of local artists. Each bowl tells a story. Shaped, turned, glazed, and finished by hand, representing hours of donated labor given in service to the community.
Initially, the Empty Bowl Project was started by Alaskan artists. For decades, they have donated thousands of one-of-a-kind ceramic and wooden bowls. No two bowls are alike, reflecting the individuality, skill, and care of their creators.
Their work transforms a simple bowl into a lasting reminder of compassion, connecting attendees directly to the mission of Bean’s Cafe and to the people who believe that art can help nourish a community.
By choosing a handmade bowl, guests carry home a tangible symbol of generosity, one created by a local artist who chose to stand with their neighbors facing hunger.
When you support the Empty Bowl Project, you help put food on the table for those who need it most. Attendance, sponsorship, and auction donations ensure families, children, elders, and individuals have access to nourishing meals, building food security today and stability for tomorrow.
