Chautauqua Area Potters: Fighting Hunger One Bowl at a Time

Since 2007, the Chautauqua Area Potters have been hosting the Empty Bowls initiative and has brought communities together to tackle food insecurity in a simple yet impactful way. Originally centered around the idea of sharing a bowl of soup, the program has since expanded to include cookies and coffee. Over the years, it has raised over $400,000 to support organizations fighting hunger, like FeedMore WNY.

The concept is both heartwarming and effective. Local artists and community members donate handmade pottery bowls for fundraising events. Attendees purchase a bowl or bowls to keep and enjoy a modest meal, symbolizing the empty bowls many face due to food insecurity. This past November, Empty Bowls was able to raise $21,500 to support our programs at this fundraiser!

Supporting AniMeals

In addition to fighting hunger among humans, the team has also supported FeedMore WNY’s AniMeals program. This initiative helps clients of FeedMore WNY’s home-delivered meals program care for their furry companions by providing pet food. AniMeals also helps supply pet food for FeedMore WNY’s food bank distribution network that partner pantries can order for the families they serve. Before AniMeals, many clients would share their own meals with their pets, often sacrificing their own nutrition to keep their companions fed. Supporting AniMeals ensures both clients and their pets stay healthy.

The Empty Bowls initiative and related fundraisers demonstrate how communities can come together to make a real difference.

“The Empty Bowls Project of the Chautauqua Area Potters has partnered with FeedMore WNY, for several years. Both organizations are so closely aligned and dedicated to eliminating Empty Bowls in this area. The Potters donate their time, talents and bowls and FeedMore WNY makes sure those bowls get filled.” – Ann Burns, Chautauqua Area Potters Board Member


Volunteer Mary Beth selling handmade bowls.


Thanks to David Caccamise and students at BOCES for all their work in providing cookies this year (and soup in past years) for the Empty Bowls fundraisers!