Empty Bowls 2025: A Community United Against Hunger in Rhode Island

Person Holding A Bowl at a food distribution center

​The Rhode Island Community Food Bank is set to host its annual Empty Bowls fundraiser on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence. This cherished event brings together community members, local artists, and restaurants to combat hunger across the state. ​providencejournal.com+4rifoodbank.org+4rifoodbank.org+4en.wikipedia.org

Event Overview

Empty Bowls offers attendees the opportunity to select a handcrafted bowl and savor unlimited tastings from some of Rhode Island’s finest restaurants. Guests keep their chosen bowls as a lasting reminder of the ongoing issue of hunger in the community. Funds raised from the event support the Food Bank’s mission to provide food assistance to approximately 84,400 Rhode Islanders each month. ​rifoodbank.org+1waterfire.org+1en.wikipedia.orgwaterfire.org+2rifoodbank.org+2facebook.com+2

Date and Venue

  1. Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025​instagram.com+4rifoodbank.org+4waterfire.org+4
  2. Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM​waterfire.org+1rimonthly.com+1
  3. Location: WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley Street, Providence, RI​yahoo.com+4waterfire.org+4rifoodbank.org+4

Participating Restaurants

The 2025 event features a diverse lineup of restaurant partners, including:​

  1. Angelo’s Civita Farneserifoodbank.org
  2. Coast Guard Houserifoodbank.org
  3. Ethiopian Eatsrifoodbank.org
  4. Exeter Job Corpsrifoodbank.org
  5. Fogo de Chaorifoodbank.org+2rifoodbank.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2
  6. Gather Farm Ice Creamrifoodbank.org
  7. Gregg’s Restaurant & Tavernsrifoodbank.org
  8. Hangry Kitchenrifoodbank.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1
  9. Indian Restaurant Grouprifoodbank.org
  10. JA Pattyrifoodbank.org
  11. Legal Sea Foodsprovidencejournal.com+2rifoodbank.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2
  12. Lemongrass Asian Bistrorifoodbank.org+1waterfire.org+1
  13. Little B’s BBQrifoodbank.org
  14. Ming’s Asian Street Foodrifoodbank.org
  15. Newport Vineyardsrifoodbank.org
  16. Portside Tavernrifoodbank.org
  17. Russell Morin Catering & Eventsrifoodbank.org
  18. Sarcastic Sweetsrifoodbank.org
  19. Stop & Shoprifoodbank.org+1waterfire.org+1
  20. Tacofiedrifoodbank.org
  21. The Catering Gourmetrifoodbank.org
  22. The DeQuattro Grouprifoodbank.org+1waterfire.org+1
  23. PiANTArifoodbank.org
  24. Julian’srifoodbank.org
  25. Mills Tavernrifoodbank.org
  26. Anchor Toffeerifoodbank.org
  27. New Harvest Coffee Roastersrifoodbank.org
  28. Edgewood Cheese Shoprifoodbank.org+1waterfire.org+1

Sponsorship Opportunities

Empty Bowls thrives thanks to the generosity of its sponsors. Sponsorship levels include:​rifoodbank.org

  1. Serving Bowl Sponsor: Stop & Shop​providencejournal.com+2rifoodbank.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2
  2. Mixing Bowl Sponsors: CBIZ, IGT​
  3. Pasta Bowl Sponsor: Washington Trust​rifoodbank.org
  4. Soup Bowl Sponsors: [Details forthcoming]​
  5. Salad Bowl Sponsors: Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, [Additional sponsors to be announced]​
  6. Cereal Bowl Sponsors: BankNewport, Baycoast Bank, Berkshire Bank Foundation, BNY Wealth, Bottaro Law Firm, Cameron & Mittleman, LLP, Chisholm, Chisholm & Kilpatrick, Coastal1 Credit Union, Delta Dental, KLR, Rockland Trust​rifoodbank.org

How to Participate

  1. Attend the Event: Purchase tickets to enjoy the culinary offerings and support the cause.​
  2. Become a Sponsor: Align your brand with a meaningful cause and gain exposure to a broad audience.​
  3. Donate Artwork: Artists can contribute handmade bowls or other works to enhance the event’s offerings.​en.wikipedia.org+1waterfire.org+1
  4. Volunteer: Offer your time and skills to assist in event execution and community engagement.​

Ticket Information

Tickets for Empty Bowls 2025 are available for purchase online. Early-bird pricing is offered for a limited time. Each ticket includes unlimited tastings and a handcrafted bowl to take home. ​waterfire.orgrifoodbank.org

Impact of Your Support

By participating in Empty Bowls, you contribute directly to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s efforts to alleviate hunger. The Food Bank distributes millions of pounds of food annually through a network of member agencies, including food pantries, meal sites, senior programs, and school initiatives. Your support ensures that individuals and families facing food insecurity receive nutritious food and essential resources. ​facebook.comrifoodbank.org+1waterfire.org+1

Event History

Empty Bowls is part of an international initiative to fight hunger, personalized by artists and art organizations on a community level. The concept originated in 1990-91 and has since been adopted worldwide, with events supporting local food-related charities. In Rhode Island, the event has become a beloved tradition, bringing together community members to address the pressing issue of hunger. ​

Join the Cause

Empty Bowls is more than an event; it’s a movement to ensure that no one in Rhode Island goes hungry. Whether through attending, sponsoring, volunteering, or donating, your involvement makes a significant impact. Join us on April 2,