On this week’s episode of the Food Podcast presented by Clearview Federal Credit Union on the TribLIVE podcast network, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank gets an inside look at how artisans are making one-of-a-kind bowls for this year’s Empty Bowls Fundraiser.

The event, which supports Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Just Harvest, serves up a community meal to raise money for hunger action efforts. Those who attend will get to try soup from a variety of different restaurants in the Pittsburgh area and bring home a ceramic bowl made by a local artisan.

“It’s just a physical reminder that there are lots of people out there who don’t bowls to fill up or food to put in their bowls. It just allows a moment to reflect on those experiences and what we can do to help,” said Audra Clayton, the Ceramics Coordinator for Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media.

Clayton says artists have been busy making hundreds of hand-made bowls for this year’s event.

This is the first time since covid hit southwestern Pennsylvania in 2020 that the Food Bank and Just Harvest have been able to host the event.

“The last time we held our annual Empty Bowls event roughly one in eight households were facing hunger in our region. Hunger grew substantially during the pandemic; many of those households haven’t recovered and are now being hit by inflation,” said Ken Regal, executive director of Just Harvest. “We’re grateful to be able to resume this event to help those who are struggling put food on the table.”

Empty Bowls 2022 will take place on Sunday, March 27, at Rodef Shalom Congregation in Oakland, the event will offer a meal of soup and bread benefiting the Food Bank and Just Harvest.

To ensure the event is as safe as possible, attendees are required to be vaccinated and will be required to wear a mask when not eating. Additionally, the organizations have added a seating time to ensure smaller crowds at each seating and increased the soup-to-go ticket option.

Each seating session will have a maximum capacity of 500 attendees with seating times of 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.; 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.; and 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. The Soup-to-Go tickets include the choice of soup, bread and a ceramic bowl to enjoy in the comfort of the attendee’s own home.

Understanding that many restaurants are still struggling to recover from the pandemic, the Food Bank and Just Harvest have offered to underwrite the cost for the soups for this year’s event. Ceramic bowls and pottery for auction have been donated by local artisans.

Tickets are now on sale at pittsburghfoodbank.org/emptybowls and are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Listen: Empty Bowls fundraising event features Pittsburgh restaurants and artisan bowls

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