Watered Gardens to host 13th annual empty bowls event

Reminiscent of the “soup lines” from the mid 1930’s, Empty Bowls is a grass roots fundraiser brought to people in cities and towns around the world by artists and crafts people to care for and feed the hungry in their communities. Patrons purchase a handcrafted pottery bowl, enjoy a serving of soup, and then have an empty bowl to take home to remind them that somewhere, someone is hungry.

The 2025 Empty Bowls will be held at Suzanne’s Natural Foods in Joplin, MO, on Thursday, November 13th from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 

Some of the local artists who’ve made bowls: Mark Strayer of North Star Pottery, Jeff Jones and artists of The Clay Cup, Brent Skinner and artists of Skinner Pottery, Suzi Huntington of Sumaro Design House, Chris Kinney of Claybeard Studio, Josh Novak of Crowder College, Debbie Miller & Judie Riggen of Walnut Springs Pottery, The Artificer’s & Sandy Smith of Fort Scott, Ks, Daria Claiborne of Joplin, MO, Angel Brame of Dragonflies & Mud Pottery of Joplin, MO, Kristi Tucker of Pottery by KT, Cathleen Bailey of Nighthawk Gallery & Studio of Neosho, MO, Stephanie Roy of Roy Pottery in Joplin, MO, Chad Keutzer of Freedom Frontier Enterprises, Burt Bucher of Labette County Community College, Patt Heinrich Olsen Studio of Nixa, MO and Alan Kirby of Hippy Clay of Pittsburg, KS.

There are several restaurants donating soup for patrons to enjoy on event day from their bowl.

Takeout orders are available on site. Restaurants include: The Bruncheonette, Club 1201, Suzanne’s Natural Foods, Granny Shaffer’s, Panera Bread, Doug Musik of SMB, Redings Mill Bread, and Schlotsky’s all of Joplin, MO, Great Western Dining in Neosho, MO.

This event supports organizations that feed people and are 100% privately funded: We Care of the Four States, Hope Kitchen and Watered Gardens.

Watered Gardens Ministries serves the local Church in its mission to help the poor. We envision the local Church boldly engaged with the poor and homeless relationally responsibly and compassionately for the transformation of life. Watered Gardens is a privately funded ministry in operation since June of 2000.

Generous Sponsors are: Mercy of Joplin, SMB, Seward’s Insulation, Binky Guy, Jordan CPA Services, Missouri Eye Institute, Joplin Greenhouse & Coffee Shop, Suzanne’s Natural Foods, Satterlee Plumbing, and TownePlace Suites of Joplin, MO.

For more info, visit: www.wateredgardens.org/emptybowls