Foodbank of Santa Barbara County Hosts 23rd Annual Santa Maria Empty Bowls Community Fundraiser October 16

Community members join together in person for beloved soup lunch fundraiser

 The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County will host its 23rd Annual Santa Maria Empty Bowls on Wednesday, October 16 at the Santa Maria Fairpark at 937 S. Thornburg Street, with two seatings at 11:30am and 12:30pm and new to-go or group delivery options.

The community can join together in person to choose from over a unique hand-painted bowls, and enjoy a simple lunch of soup and bread, a raffle extravaganza and festive environment, all while providing healthy food to those in the Santa Maria community facing hunger and food insecurity.

Tickets cost $25 and are available online at www.FoodbankSBC.org/SMEB24 or may be purchased at the Foodbank’s Santa Maria warehouse at 490 W. Foster Road Monday through Friday 7 am to 3 pm.

The Foodbank will use all proceeds raised to provide healthy groceries, fresh produce and nutrition education to Santa Maria residents who are facing hunger and food insecurity.

The Empty Bowls raffle extravaganza features prizes including handmade artisan creations, food and wines, special experiences and more.  Entertainment will include bowl-making demonstrations by Mike McNutt of Allan Hancock College’s ceramics program.

Attendees will enjoy the beloved process of choosing from among hundreds of one-of-a-kind bowls – provided by the Allan Hancock College ceramics program, Melanie Enloe, Shirley Hinzo, Mike McNutt, Oasis Senior Center, Orcutt Academy High School, Righetti High School, St. Joseph High School, Santa Ynez High School, Sue Southern, Ben Trogdon, Vandenberg Spouses Club and Foodbank volunteers. The bowls can be used to enjoy the soup of the guest’s choice at the event, and to keep as a reminder of Empty Bowls’ purpose – to raise awareness and funds to serve those in our community who don’t have enough food to eat.

Gourmet soups will be created and donated by local chefs and restaurants including the Culinary Program, Nutrition & Wellness Club, and the CRU Club at Allan Hancock College.

Leftover soup from the event will be shared with the Salvation Army and frozen for use when warming shelters open up during the cold winter months.

The Foodbank is grateful to the following sponsors of 2024 Santa Maria Empty Bowls: AgWest Farm Credit, Atlas Copco Mafi-Trench Company LLC, CenCal Health, CoastHills Community Foundation, Hardy Diagnostics, Dignity Health Marian Regional Medical Center, Mechanics Bank, Montecito Bank & Trust, and the Santa Barbara Foundation.

The Foodbank is grateful to the Santa Maria Empty Bowls committee, which has worked tirelessly for several months to make this event possible.

Community members who wish to volunteer for Santa Maria Empty Bowls (set-up, service, clean-up, and more) may sign up at www.FoodbankSBC.org/VolunteerNorthCounty or may email Kelly Smith at KSmith@FoodbankSBC.org.

About Foodbank of Santa Barbara County

The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County transforms hunger into health through good nutrition and food literacy. The Foodbank provides nourishment and education through a network of more than 200 partner agencies, nutrition education programs and food distribution sites. In Santa Barbara County, one in three people receive support from the Foodbank – 38% of the individuals we serve are children.

For more information, please visit FoodbankSBC.org or contact the Foodbank at (805) 967-5741.