(Posted October 18, 2023)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – In observance of National Tackling Hunger Month, Empty Bowls will return to Juniata College for its 15th year of raising funds to fight food insecurity in Huntingdon County. Events will be held in person and online this year. 

Empty Bowls will kick off Saturday, October 21 with a preview from 5-9 p.m., followed by an online store featuring 250 handmade bowls at 1 p.m. Sunday, October 22, at https://emptybowlsjuniata.square.site/. Bowls sold online will be available for pickup on Saturday, October 28. Details will be made available upon purchase. 

An in-person event featuring soups from local eateries and home cooks served in the handmade bowl of the diner’s choice will be held from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, October 28, in von Liebig Center for Science at Juniata. Tickets can be purchased through the online store and at the Juniata College Unity House, 1905 Moore St., Huntingdon, PA 16652. 

Empty Bowls is an annual fundraiser hosted by Juniata faculty, staff, and students to benefit four local food banks and the area elementary school backpack programs. To date, this event has raised over $79,000 for its beneficiaries. All money raised benefits Huntingdon County residents. 

“Empty Bowls has been a part of my life since I founded an Empty Bowls event for Carbondale, Illinois, while I in graduate school,” said Bethany Benson Burns, chair of the Art and Art History Department at Juniata. “When I moved to Huntingdon, it was a quick way to ground myself and begin working with and for the community. There is nothing more important to me than giving back and teaching my students the value of meaningful civic engagement.” 

All bowls made for the event were created by students enrolled in Empty Bowls Practicum, faculty, and friends of Juniata College.  

The event is organized by Burns; Robert Boryk, instructor of art; Lisa Baer, Catholic campus minister and coordinator of campus ministry; Lorri Shideler, director of conferences and events; and Jennifer Troha. 

Tickets can be purchased in advance through the online store https://emptybowlsjuniata.square.site/. Adult tickets cost $15, Juniata student and seniors tickets cost $13, children under the age of 5 go free to the in-person event. 

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.