This fall will mark the return of Empty Bowls, TrueNorth’s largest fundraising event for our Hunger Prevention Programs. For over 20 years, this event has been serving up delicious soups in an effort to increase access to healthy, nutritious food for those who might suffer from food insecurity.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, TrueNorth programs like the Food Pantry, Weekend PowerPacks and Feeding America West Michigan Mobile Food Pantries saw record numbers of our neighbors seeking food. “We heard from so many people who lost a job in a restaurant or factory and suddenly had to provide three meals a day for their kids with no time to plan,” said Mike Voyt, who manages Hunger Prevention programs at TrueNorth. The Empty Bowls event typically supplies $20,000 to help fund these programs.
Just in the same manner in which the Food Pantry is operating, Empty Bowls 2021 will be a drive-thru style event. Attendees will select from a variety of soup offerings, courtesy of Ridge Catering, to be re-heated at their convenience. In addition to heartwarming soup, each attendee will receive bread, a cookie and an empty, hand-painted bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in and around Newaygo County.
If you are unable to attend the event in-person, please consider a much-needed donation to support the event.
