Empty Bowls on September 15th

Empty Bowls is the centerpiece event of Hunger Action Month. It’s a celebration of community, art, and collaboration while bringing awareness to the very real problem of hunger.  This year Empty Bowls is on Monday, September 15^th, and it is MANNA’s 13^th year of sponsorship.

Special thanks to this year’s food donors which include:

Annie’s Breads, Biltmore, Biscuit Head, Brixx, Carmel’s, Chestnut, Corner Kitchen, Dining Innovations, Deerfield’s, French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Geraldine’s Bakery, Givens Estates, Harrah’s, Mountain City Coffee Roasters, PF Chang’s,  Lexington Avenue Brewery, Strada, Roux, True Confections, Tupelo Honey Café, Well- Bread Bakery,and 12 Bones.

Attendees choose a bowl handmade by local artisans and enjoy a meal of soup, bread, and dessert. The souvenir bowl they take home is a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world.  This is the 3^nd year that an Empty Bowls dinner event is offered in addition to the luncheon. The luncheon event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Double Tree Presented by Hilton Asheville-Biltmore. Musical entertainment provided by the trio River Guerguerian, Billy Cardine and Dr. Bill Bares,  as well as classical guitar by Brad Earnhardt.  Tickets for the lunch event are SOLD OUT as of Monday morning, September 15.

The dinner will be held at the Hilton Asheville-Biltmore Park from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Musical entertainment will by provided by the Sound Education Jazz trio with Ryan Kijanka, Franklin Keel, and Gabrielle Tee. Expect some tango music as well! Tickets for the dinner event are SOLD OUT as of Thursday, September 11.

Everything for the event is donated: the soup, the restaurant space, the dessert, and over 1,000 plus bowls.  This allows for all the profits to go directly toward feeding our neighbors facing hunger in Western North Carolina.  With every dollar raised or donated, MANNA FoodBank can provide enough food for three meals.

“This is a great way to learn about hunger and MANNA, and introduce the whole family to the notion of service and giving back,” says Alisa Hixson, director of Empty Bowls.

Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets at least a week prior to the event,  and tickets are only available in advance.