Empty Bowls, the one-of-a-kind fundraiser to support food security for all, is slated to take place on Sunday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MSOE Kern Center, 1245 N. Broadway.
Guests are invited to attend the event and purchase one of over 1500 unique bowls handmade and donated by local artisans. Bowls are $30 each and include two free soup samples donated by local restaurants and food businesses. Additional soup sample tickets are available for $2.
Guests can also enjoy a variety of beverages, live music, live pottery demonstrations, an online silent auction and more. Even better, all proceeds from the event will support the mission of NourishMKE, which provides more than 50,000 individuals with over 1 million pounds of food annually. There are also still opportunities for individuals who wish to help out by volunteering at the event. Sign up here!
Even better, all proceeds will support the mission of NourishMKE which provides more than 50,000 individuals with over 1 million pounds of food annually.
Empty Bowls will feature soup donations from the following venues:
- Cafe Corazon
- Glorioso’s
- The Bartolotta Restaurants
- Temple Goddess
- Avli
- The Hilton
- The Soup Market
- Il Cervo
- Cloud Red
- Outpost Co-Op
- Riverwest Co-op
- Purple Door Ice Cream
- Breadsmith
... and more. Are you a chef or restaurateur interested in participating? Sign up here.
"When our community comes together, real change happens,” said Valerie MacMillan, Executive Director of NourishMKE. “Empty Bowls turns a simple meal into a powerful act of care for neighbors facing food insecurity.”
Raising money to nourish Milwaukee families is more important now than ever. With evolving federal policies on food programs and a challenging job market, the need continues to rise each year. Support is needed to ensure all families have access to healthy, nourishing, and free groceries. Empty Bowls offers a fun,
family-friendly way to support this worthy cause.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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