Empty Bowls Baltimore Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Two-Day Fundraiser

At Beans & Bread, St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore's day resource center on North Charles Street, hundreds of people line up for breakfast and lunch every weekday. Keeping that service running costs money: last April, more than 700 Baltimoreans raised $154,000 of it by sitting down to soup.

That funding model returns April 17-18 for the 20th Annual Empty Bowls, a two-day fundraiser organized by St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore (SVDP) that draws on local restaurants, ceramic artists, and supporters from across the region.

The weekend opens Friday, April 17, with "Candlelight & Clay" (6:30-9:30 p.m.), an evening reception featuring food tastings from local restaurants, an open bar, Felix & Fingers Dueling Pianos, a silent auction, and first selection of handmade ceramic keepsake bowls. Saturday's Annual Family Event (4-7 p.m., Maryland State Fairgrounds in Lutherville-Timonium) pivots to families, with unlimited soup, kid-friendly entertainment, and local artisan booths. Early bird tickets for Saturday run $35 per person or $450 for a table of 10; children nine and under attend free.

Every dollar raised goes toward SVDP programs operating across the city and region: the 5,000-plus meals a day the organization provides to people experiencing hunger, the 138 individuals and families in stable housing through its Home Connections permanent supportive program, the 110 families receiving rapid re-housing support through Front Door Baltimore City, and Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education for the city's youngest residents. Across Central and Western Maryland, 39 SVDP volunteer conference groups distribute more than $500,000 in food assistance annually.

The need behind those programs is measurable. Even as food insecurity in Baltimore City fell 7.5% in recent years, 28% of residents still reported experiencing hunger and facing barriers to reaching grocery stores. Nearly three in ten Baltimoreans navigating those conditions is the reality the annual ceramic bowl is meant to hold.

The Empty Bowls concept was built on that idea. A Michigan art teacher created the model in 1990, asking students to craft ceramic bowls for a fundraising dinner with food donated by local restaurants; guests left with an empty bowl as a symbol of persistent hunger. SVDP has run Baltimore's version for 20 consecutive years.

"We're so grateful for the incredible support from our neighbors and partners who help bring this event to life and make our work possible," SVDP leadership said. The 2026 edition is backed by sponsors including Lieutenant Thomas Joseph Hill, The Friendly Inn Association, and GAF, supported by more than 75 volunteers across both nights.

Tickets for both Friday and Saturday, along with volunteer sign-ups, are available at vincentbaltimore.org/empty-bowls/.