Soup’s on! Empty Bowls event continues to serve record numbers

For the first time, Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Empty Bowls event will include evening hours and an off-campus weekend opportunity.

The eighth annual sale will be held in the International Ballroom at Walb Student Union from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. For $30, participants receive a handcrafted artistic bowl, a choice of soups from Miller’s Market, bread, a cookie, and a bottle of water; carryout options are also available. Credit cards and checks are accepted.
 
This year, there will also be another Empty Bowls event at Artlink, 300 E. Main St., on April 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 
Proceeds benefit the FRIENDS of the University Pantry and also help support PFW Ceramics Club members so they may attend conventions, workshops, and tour art museums. The pantry, which is available to members of the campus community and the general public, served 8,680 patrons in 2024 at its two locations, nearly matching its 2023 numbers.
 
The 2024 Empty Bowls event raised a record $7,372. This year, a record 400 bowls have been created, which includes submissions from students at five area high schools, local artists, alumni, and community members. The majority were produced by the advanced ceramics class of Seth Green, associate professor of ceramics, who brought the idea to PFW.