TABLE’s 13th Empty Bowls Fundraiser

TABLE has been delivering healthy food and nutrition education to children in Orange County since 2008.

With 1 in 3 children in Orange County experiencing food insecurity, TABLE meets a growing need in our community by delivering healthy, nutritious food directly to the homes of 1125 children every week. TABLE also provides nutrition education to ensure children learn healthy eating habits.

TABLE has four goals:

• Improve children’s overall health
• Increase children’s knowledge of nutrition, positive attitudes toward healthy eating, and/or long-term healthy eating habits
• Ensure children and families are engaged, involved, and feel dignified
• Ensure children have access to and eat sufficient nutritious food

TABLE has 11 staff, both part- and full-time, and relies on nearly 200 volunteers each week to sort, pack, and deliver donated and purchased food, much of which is fresh produce. There are many ways to support TABLE as a volunteer or sponsor.

There has been an uptick in need since the pandemic with a particularly large jump in 2023 when the government reduced SNAP benefits. TABLE currently has a waitlist of over 200 children with new families joining every week. Staff estimate it will take six months to move a child off the waitlist.

TABLE’s annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser is Sunday, October 5 from 3-6pm at Carrboro Town Commons. You can purchase tickets onsite or online until Sunday morning before the event.

Suzanne Tormollen, TABLE’s Director of Marketing, described the evolution of TABLE’s Empty Bowls fundraiser, which is part of a global, grassroots movement linking local artists to efforts to feed the hungry in their communities. TABLE’s first event was held at the former TABLE office on East Main St. As it grew, venues changed, even becoming a “pick up only” event during the pandemic. For the past few years, it’s been held at Town Commons. There are 400 tickets available for the event and they usually sell out with about 90% of purchases made online in advance. This year, 40 potters participated and there are about 400 bowls available. Ten local restaurants participated, providing six different “fall-inspired” soups, bread, dessert, iced tea, and water. Here is the menu from TABLE’s website:

Classic Butternut Squash ***
with apples, carrots, and coconut
Tandem

Savory Wild Mushroom Blend **
Gabor Farms (TABLE farm partner)

Homestyle Chicken Noodle
Grata Diner

Rich & Creamy Tomato Basil**

The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering

Hearty White Bean & Kale with Sausage
Venable Bistro

Festive Mexican Chicken Pozole
Weaver Street Market

Freshly-Baked Bread & Cookies
Bru’s Public House • Carolina Inn • Even Dough Bakery • Grata Diner • While You're Up

*Gluten Free **Vegetarian & Gluten Free ***Vegan & Vegetarian

Available for purchase: beer from Steel String Brewery and wine from Weaver St. Market.

Also this year: an area with mushroom taste testing and education about mushrooms’ nutritional and medicinal properties.

With live music from the School of Rock and Esthimer & Cole, you do not want to miss this great community event! Bring your chairs or a blanket to enjoy your soup on the lawn.