How you can help
Sponsorships
Join us as a Soup-er Sponsor for the 2026 Austin Empty Bowl Project and make a compelling difference for individuals in need in Central Texas. By supporting this impactful event, you’ll provide essential funding for programs provided by Central Texas Food Bank and Meals on Wheels Central Texas.
Sponsorship information can be found here.
Volunteer
Ready to volunteer with us? We’d love your help!
We need over 250 volunteers for the Saturday preview party and Sunday event.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and willing to spend at least three hours working at the event. Volunteers must wear closed-toe shoes.
Sign up is not yet open for the 2026 Austin Empty Bowl Project event.
Sign up available in early October
Donate bowls
Folks love our bowls! Ceramic studios and potters around Central Texas make up to 3,500 bowls each year!
Bowls must be ceramic, food-safe glazed bowls that will hold 2 cups of liquid. Bowls should not have any rough edges or rough or sharp spots. The interior of the bowls should be completely glazed with no pinholes or crevices that could harbor bacteria.
Boxing, Labeling and Drop off: Please wrap and box your bowls with your name, organization, contact email & phone number, and number of bowls clearly marked on the lid of the box. You may drop off your boxes through the Friday before the event at one of these locations for more details:
Click on the studio name to check their websites for directions and hours.
Bowls may also be dropped off at the Central Texas Food Bank, 6500 Metropolis Drive from noon to 4:00 on Saturday, the day before the event. If you need additional information, contact us at austinemptybowl@gmail.com.
Decorate Bowls
Not a potter or pottery student, but would love to donate a bowl?? You can hand decorate a ceramic bowl and have it donated to the event.
Please contact one of the following studios:
Soup, Bread and other donations
We serve over 200 gallons of soup and dozens and dozens of loaves of bread at the event! Make a donation and we will give your business a shout out on our social media and website!
We also need lots of other in-kind help… table and chair rental, media contacts, t-shirts, paper products, etc. We would love your help with any of these items. And just like soup and bread donations, we will recognize you in our social media posts and on our website.
Please get in touch with us at austinemptybowl@gmail.com.
Donate
Help us fight hunger in Central Texas!
All of the money we raise at the event goes to the Central Texas Food Bank and Meals On Wheels.
We are an all volunteer organization!