Empty Bowls fundraiser serves hope — and soup — to fight hunger in Southeast Missouri

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

JACKSON, Mo., (KBSI) — The Southeast Missouri Food Bank is hosting its annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, offering community members a warm bowl of soup from some of the area’s favorite restaurants while supporting families facing hunger.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the food bank’s Jackson location, 4536 E. Jackson Blvd. For a $15 donation, attendees receive a handcrafted commemorative bowl — a lasting reminder of the hope they’re giving to neighbors in need. Carry-out and delivery options in Cape Girardeau and Jackson are also available for $16.

For those who can’t make it to the lunch event, Riverside Pottery Studio is hosting an evening gathering from 5 to 8 p.m. A minimum $20 donation provides guests with a handcrafted bowl and warm soup, with proceeds benefiting the food bank’s hunger relief programs.

Participating restaurants include 36 Restaurant & Bar, Celebrations, Chick-fil-A, Ebb & Flow Fermentations, Encore Pizzeria, McAlister’s Deli, My Daddy’s Cheesecake, Olive’s Pitaria, Panera, Pilot House, Port Cape, Relish, Roni’s Mac Bar, Schnucks, Smokehouse 61, and The Southerner.

Funds raised from the event help fill empty bowls across Southeast Missouri, supporting the food bank’s mission to fight hunger in the region.