Tucson's Empty Bowls fundraiser puts focus on food insecurity

“People who attend get to choose from thousands of beautiful hand-crafted bowls created by local potters who donate their time ... attendees get to eat delicious soups donated by restaurants and then take their bowls home to remind them that every day, somewhere, there is an empty bowl, and Interfaith Community Services (ICS) is there to answer the call with food trucks and food banks. ICS always finds a way to get someone food and that truly warms my heart,” said Alba Rojas-Sukkar, a volunteer who is coordinating the event.

The 14th Annual Empty Bowls will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River Road. Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased online at https://www.icstucson.org/emptybowls/.

The event is often described as “the cheapest fundraiser in town that brings people together to eat, have a good time and support a good cause,” according to Tom McKinney, CEO of ICS, which is dedicated to providing pathways to more stable and self-sufficient lives for those in need.

Last year, ICS food banks, in partnership with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, distributed 2.4 million pounds of food throughout Pima County. Distribution was facilitated through brick-and-mortar food banks and a mobile food bank that was implemented two years ago. The mobile food bank has plans to expand its route in the next six months.

“We need to make sure we are getting food to everyone who needs it. Food is the building block for self-sufficiency, along with housing. Everyone wants people to have jobs, but they first need to have their basic needs met,” said McKinney.

He emphasized ICS has seen a continued increase in community need for both food banks and other services such as emergency financial assistance with rent, utilities and other basic needs for those in crisis.

“Once the pandemic passed, I think everyone thought everything would be OK again, but we have seen more need and more people displaced,” McKinney said. “People look at the stock market, but it is not an indication of those who are struggling to feed their families, to stay in their homes and to find jobs they can make a living at.”

ICS has become adept at bringing basic needs and a range of assistance — including social interaction and transportation to medical appointments and shopping — to help seniors and other vulnerable populations remain independent in their homes, according to Rojas-Sukkar. In total, 8,500 households are served each month through ICS services.

“These numbers will blow your mind: 205,000 miles were driven by volunteers last year to take people food boxes and to take seniors and disabled clients to doctors and other appointments,” Rojas-Sukkar said. “Through the year, 39,000 people picked up the phone and called for help, and ICS answered. These are the needs that ICS meets, and that is remarkable.”

ICS also promotes long-term stability through programs such as Reset, which offers broad support for adults and families; Getting Ahead Workshops; and the Bridges Financial Management series, which provides mentorship and education in financial literacy, planning and goal-setting. Additionally, a Workforce Development program offers free coaching and employment assistance for job hunters at every level; and the Single Mom Scholars program provides wrap-around services to support single moms attending college.

Ultimately, Rojas-Sukkar believes that the force of more than 100 volunteers are happy to support ICS programming and to partner with individuals, artists, potters, businesses, local restaurants and eateries and others to make Empty Bowls a reality.

“I love that all the money we raise at Empty Bowls goes to where it is so needed,” Rojas-Sukkar said. “Food insecurity is real and often people don’t realize the magnitude. I encourage everyone to go to ICS on any day the food bank is open and see the line of cars going through. They can see the joy it brings to people.”