‘Empty Bowls’ huge success, raises over $19,000 for White Center & Highline Area Food Banks

The annual “Empty Bowls” fundraiser for the White Center and Highline Area Food Banks was a huge success on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, with attendance estimated at 852 people, raising a total of $19,220.

That’s a 20 percent increase in funds over last year, and 42 percent growth in attendance.

Every year, Moshier Art Center potters donate handmade bowls to be filled with soup at this fun event. Your donation gives you an opportunity to pick out a beautiful handmade bowl, as well as a simple but wonderful meal of soup, bread, dessert, and drink donated by local businesses.

Empty Bowls events can be found around the country raising money to combat hunger in our communities.

The annual event was held at the Burien Community Center, and was full of smiling people doing good things for Burien.

A raffle was also held for 14 extra-special handmade bowls, with winners chosen by Burien City Manager Adolfo Bailon.

Empty Bowls “Best Soup” Winners

The winners – chosen in a taste test by a jury of eight locals – this year goes to:

Best Soup:

• Azteca Mexican Restaurants with their Azteca Chowder

2nd Place:

• Smarty Pants Garage with their Chowder

3rd Place:

• Tortas Locas Burien with their Lentils Charros

Best Facility Soup, 1st Place:

• Village Green West Seattle with Lemon Chicken Orzo

2nd Place:

• Merrill Gardens with their Crab Bisque

3rd Place:

• Village Concepts of Burien with their Jamaican Gumbo

“Thank you for all that participated! It was a great line-up of soup this year,” organizers said.

Below is raw video from The B-Town Blog’s live Facebook feed:

For more info, visit the city’s website here.