The silent auction has become a popular staple feature of the event.
A Tradition of Generosity
On March 2007, the food bank held its first Empty Bowls fundraiser event at the Laredo Energy Arena. Since then, the event has become a staple fundraiser event for the South Texas Food Bank.
A great portion of the funding for our programs, in particular our Kids Cafés, comes from the money we raise from our annual Empty Bowls event. The event includes:
a dinner; a recognition to longstanding supporters of the food bank’s mission; a benefit concert and a silent auction featuring artworks from both local and regional artists.
The concert has become one of the area’s most looked
forward to events of the summer. Our past concerts have drawn audiences from all over the state and Mexico. This is in part to the emphasis we put on offering our supporters the unique opportunity of enjoying audience-favorite artists from both the past and present at an affordable price. Past performers have included legendary acts such as: Three Dog Night, America, Foreigner, The Commodores, Kansas and more.
An average of 8,000 people attend this event.
Our Honorees
Since 2009, the South Texas Food Bank has recognized outstanding individuals, businesses and organizations that have been longstanding community partners and are supporters of the food bank’s mission at the Empty Bowls celebration.
Past Honorees
2009: Arturo Benavides, Sr.
2010: Texas State Senator Judith Zaffirini
2011: Odie Arambula, Erasmo Villarreal & Galo Garcia
2012: H.E.B. Stores
2013: Lamar Bruni Vergara Foundation Trustees
2014: The Beaumont Foundation
2015: The South Texas Outreach Foundation
2016: Guadalupe & Lilia Martinez Foundation
* Empty Bowls I & II did not have honorees. The tradition of an honoree started in 2009 for Empty Bowls III.
The Art
The Cause and the Arts come together at Empty Bowls
Empty Bowls is a great way in which we can bring together two causes: fighting hunger in our area and celebrating art and culture, and nothing reflects this more than our silent auction, which has become a staple of the event.
Our supporters look forward to the unique and beautiful works of art.
Past silent artwork auction artists have included Amado Peña, Armando Hinojosa, Arturo Nochebuena, Pancho Farias, Cuate Santos, Daniel Maltzman, David Grizzle to name a few.
The Music
The Empty Bowls Concerts have featured audience-favorite artists from both the past and present.
Past Headliners
Empty Bowls I (2007):
Efrain "Happy" Guerrero and the Joe Guerra Jazz Band
Empty Bowls II (2008):
Efrain "Happy" Guerrero and the Joe Guerra Jazz Band
Empty Bowls III (2009):
America
Empty Bowls IV (2010):
Three Dog Night
Empty Bowls V (2011):
Christopher Cross
Empty Bowls VI (2012):
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Empty Bowls VII (2013):
The Jefferson Starship
Empty Bowls VIII (2014):
The Commodores
Empty Bowls IX (2015):
Kansas
Empty Bowls X (2016):
Grand Funk Railroad
Empty Bowls XI (2017):
Los Lonely Boys
Empty Bowls XII (2019):
Calle 8 Band
Empty Bowls XiII (2022):
Los Lobos
Empty Bowls XV (2022):
Kevin Fowler & Roger Creager
The Community
Easily one of the most important parts of Empty Bowls, is ensuring the communities we serve receive the assistance they need; a mission made possible thanks to the help of our amazing sponsors and donors. Our clients are the reason we do what we do. Click below to witness Ms. Hernandez's story and her experience as a client with the South Texas Food Bank.
For More Information:
Angie Osterman, Sr. Marketing Specialist/Regional Marketing Liaison
aosterman@southtexasfoodbank.org
956-726-3120 Ext. 100
Alex Carraman, Marketing Specialist
marketing@southtexasfoodbank.org
956-726-3120 Ext. 117