The popular Empty Bowls fundraiser for hunger relief will take place in person this year on October 9th. It’s the first time in the pandemic that it’s returned to its traditional format, more or less, although it will take place outdoors in the Cerf district’s downtown Beer Garden.

The event, which raises funds by selling unique artist bowls with soup samples from restaurants, has a new organizer this year: Friedens Food Pantries, a network of four emergency food banks in Milwaukee, led by Executive Director Sophia Torrijos. Profits will be donated to the non-profit association.

“We are so thrilled that Sophia and her group have taken over,” said April Klinter, who served first as treasurer and then as president of Milwaukee Empty Bowls, the nonprofit volunteer group that organized the event. from 1998 to 2021. . “We couldn’t be happier.”

The group Empty Bowls decided to raise $1 million to help address food insecurity would be a good stopping point for members, Klinter said. With the 2021 event – ​​outdoor pop-ups involving a food truck and bowl sales through Outpost Natural Foods – Milwaukee Empty Bowls has reached its goal, giving away more than $1 million since 1998 to local groups fighting against hunger.

The group wanted to hand over the reins to an organization that could continue Empty Bowls in Milwaukee while taking ownership of the event, Klinter said, and that’s where Friedens came in.

“We love how fun, accessible and collaborative it is” with restaurants and artists, Torrijos said of Empty Bowls. “I have a whole stack of bowls at home myself.”

The bowls are meant to symbolize the empty bowls of people facing food insecurity. “Every time you open the closet, it’s a reminder,” Torrijos said.

This year, the event will take place from noon to 3 p.m. on October 9. Because the Beer Garden is outdoors but covered, empty bowls will take place rain or shine. The Beer Garden is south of Juneau Avenue near King Drive.

Although patrons can simply show up and purchase handmade bowls at the event, this year Friedens is selling tickets online in advance. This will help the group plan, ensure ticket buyers will have guaranteed bowls, and allow attendees to bypass the ticket purchase line at the event.

Tickets this year are $30 for an Artist’s Bowl, which includes two soup samples. Participants will choose their own bowls. Additional soup samples are available for $5 each; engraved spoons can be ordered as in the past, for $15. The student-made bowls cost $15 each and also include two soup samples.

The lineup of vendors preparing soups this year so far includes Lisa Kaye Catering, Tostada MKE, Three Brothers Serbian Restaurant, Lazy Susan and Outpost, who will also be selling bowls after the event, for those unable to attend.

Artists contributing to the bowls include a group from Cream City Clay, 7105 W. Greenfield Ave. to West Allis, which will sell bowls through the end of the year to benefit Friedens.

Advance tickets are available at friedenspantry.org/empty-bowls.

Additionally, a virtual auction to benefit food pantries opens at 1 p.m. on October 6 and ends at 3 p.m. on October 9 at 32auctions.com/FriedensEmptyBowls.

The Milwaukee Empty Bowls event has always been one of the biggest in the country, organizers said. The event takes place in cities around the world, and it has taken place in other communities in the Milwaukee area.

The goal is to raise $50,000, which would reduce food insecurity for more than 10,000 people, according to Friedens, which was founded in 1978.

All proceeds will benefit Friedens’ four food pantries – Coggs Center, 1220 W. Vliet St.; Despensa de la Paz, 1615 S. 22nd St.; Hope House, 209 W. Orchard St.; and Zion Rock, 10230 W. Fond Du lac Ave. – and also support nutrition education and other efforts.

Contact Carol at carol.deptolla@jrn.com or (414) 224-2841, or via the Sentinel Food & Home Journal page on Facebook. Follow her on Twitter at @mkediner or Instagram at @mke_diner.