About The Event
Return to the Kern Center! Bigger and better than before!!
!!NEW THIS YEAR: Bowls that are pre-purchased come with an additional soup sample AND VIP Admission to the event from 11:30-12:00pm!!
On October 8th, more than 1,000 handmade, one-of-a-kind bowls will be available for purchase at Friedens Empty Bowls – held at MSOE’s Kern Center from 12-3 pm. Guests can enjoy a beautiful piece of art which also serves as a reminder that someone’s bowl is always empty in our community.
Since 1978, Friedens has been feeding those in need in the Milwaukee metro area. With the involvement and support of signature sponsors, local businesses, and a dedicated team of volunteers, 100% of the funds raised at this year’s event will go towards supporting food-insecure families in need.
At Friedens, food is at the heart of what we do. We grow food together in our container beds and hydroponic towers. We prepare weekly food samples for guests at our cooking education table. And most importantly, we build connections between neighbors when we break bread together in our community food centers. We believe wholeheartedly that everyone deserves access to good food, and that food is able to transform lives, the economy, and the environment.
Not Able to Attend the Event? Want to Purchase More Bowls?
After the event, all remaining bowls will be available for purchase at Cream City Clay and Outpost Natural Foods through the end of the year.
Win Great Prizes - October 6th - October 8th!
Don’t miss a chance to support Empty Bowls and win amazing deals through our virtual auction. Participation can be from anywhere – either from home or at the event! Auction opens Friday, October 6th at 1pm and closes Sunday, October 8th at 3pm at the end of the event.
Volunteer for the Event!
Do you want to help out at the event?
Who is Providing Soup?
This year we have even more yummy soups to sample!
Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-sale ends the night before the event, October 7 at 9pm. After this time all purchases must be made at the door on a first-come-first-serve basis.
This year while we have over 1,000 bowls to sell, demand is high. Pre-sale purchasers will be able to enter the event earlier to skip the line and browse the bowls first. AND get an extra soup ticket!
Yes! To ensure you get a bowl we recommend purchasing a bowl in advance of the event. However, bowls are available at the door while supplies last. If you did not purchase a bowl in advance of the event look for the “purchase items here” line at the registration table.
Yes! The event is free and open to the public. Come and enjoy the music and learn about Friedens. All event proceeds support our food pantries.
Street parking is free on Sundays. There are also several parking ramps nearby that you can park in for a fee.
There are many ways to support our pantries year round. Consider volunteering or hosting a food drive with your family or friends. Donating is also a great way to give back — it only costs Friedens $5 to feed a person for 5 days!
We will do our best to honor your purchase cannot make any guarantees. If you’d like to request a refund or have us set aside a bowl for you contact Sophia at director@friedenspantry.org
Visit: 32auction.com/FriedensEmptyBowls
Auction opens Friday, October 6th giving you 3 days to bid on your favorite items. Auction closes Sunday October 8 at 3pm.
The lines for bowl purchase and pre-purchase are clearly marked at the entrance to the Kern Center.
This event is located near downtown within close proximity of bars and restaurants. Feel free to stick around the area after the event to grab a bite to eat!
That’s great! Contact Sophia at director@friedenspantry.org and Colleen at colleen@creamcityclay.com
Great! Contact Sophia at director@friedenspantry.org
We’d love your help! Contact us at volunteer@friedenspantry.org and let us know you want to participate in Empty Bowls.
If you have a food allergy, please let the food vendor know before sampling their soup. Also, soups will be marked with a sign indicating possible, common allergies.
Nope! The event runs from 12pm-3pm. You can feel free to stop in at any time and stay for as long as you would like.
This event is rain or shine! Our event is indoors.
Yes, this event has access to restrooms.
Sorry – bowls can only be picked up at the event! We are not able to ship bowls to you.
Not this year! For sanitary reasons you’ll be provided a compostable bowl to eat out of at the event.
Most bowls can be microwaved. Some cannot. You can test it by trying to microwave something and if the pot gets hot and the food stays cold it’s not a microwavable bowl.
All bowls distributed at Empty Bowls are food-safe. We remove any that are not or have sharp edges.
Not at all! Arrive whenever you’d like before 3:00pm. If you’d like to take advantage of VIP admission you will want to arrive early, but you can attend at any time. You’ll still receive your extra soup ticket.
Sign Up for Updates Regarding Empty Bowls!
Thank you to our Filled to the Brim Lead Sponsors!
Thank you to our Hearty Helping Sponsors!
Thank you to our Sensible Serving Sponsors!
Thank you to our Tasty Morsel Sponsors!
