December 8, 2023

ETHS students Libby Moreno (left) and Isaiah Turk were in full volunteer spirit at this year’s Empty Bowl.

The Evanston Township High School (ETHS) Community Service Club (CSC) hosted its annual Empty Bowl event on December 6 to support local organizations addressing food insecurity. Staff and students from the CSC, Arts + Innovation Department (ceramics), Human Resources Department, Operations Department, Student Activities Office, and Nutrition Services Department helped coordinate the event to raise awareness and funds to fight local hunger.

About 600 people attended the Empty Bowl 2023. This year, the Human Resources Department sponsored the cost for staff to receive the soup lunch. Students and staff had the opportunity to purchase a handmade ceramic bowl during ETHS lunch blocks. 

Ceramic bowls displayed for the 2023 ETHS Empty Bowl event.

With help from more than 75 student volunteers, this year’s Empty Bowl event raised more than $3,000 for Connections for the Homeless, Evanston Grows, and the ETHS Food Pantry. 

Many local businesses and organizations supported Empty Bowl at ETHS, including DB3 Donuts, Bennison’s Bakery, and Great Harvest Bread Company. In addition, dozens of ceramic pieces were donated by local artists, businesses, and organizations for a silent auction. Individual ceramic donations were provided by Evanston community members, including Bonnie Katz, Sophie Brennan, Ruth Hecht, ABN Pottery, Ware Ceramic Studio, Neil’s Wheel, Midwest Clay Guild, Grunewald Ceramics, Evanston Art Center, and Robert Crown Ceramics. 

For more information about Empty Bowl at ETHS, contact Erin Claeys, Community Service Coordinator, at 847-424-7662.