PROP’s Empty Bowls fundraiser on Feb. 21 at St. Andrew Lutheran Church

Empty Bowls is back in person on Tuesday, Feb. 21, for the first time since 2020. 

PROP Food Shelf’s only annual fundraiser promises a day of food, music, and community, with the theme of this year’s event being “Everybody Eats.”

Empty Bowls aims to raise awareness and funding to combat hunger, housing, and employment insecurity in the Eden Prairie and Chanhassen areas.

The 11th annual event will be held at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 13600 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie, during lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 21.

Those attending will receive a free bowl of soup as a reminder of local food needs, and will also have the opportunity to take home a hand-crafted ceramic or glass bowl created by local artists and students.

The event will feature live music performances from seven local artists, including the Eden Prairie Community Band, the Eden Prairie High School Choir, professional guitarist Phil Kitchen, and performing artist Allie McIntosh.

In addition, there will be a silent auction with more than $6,000 worth of items available for bidding.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church has been running a “TP FOR EP” paper goods collection for PROP during February and is building a massive fort of paper products to display at the event.

So far, TP FOR EP has accumulated more than 200,000 feet of paper products. The church is accepting paper towels, tissues, napkins, and toilet paper donations for PROP through Feb. 19.

During last week’s Eden Prairie City Council meeting, Mayor Ron Case presented PROP Executive Director Jenifer Loon with a proclamation declaring Feb. 21, 2023, as Empty Bowls Day. Case will re-read the proclamation twice during the Empty Bowls event – once at 11:20 a.m. and again at 4:20 p.m.

Also, during the council meeting, Eden Prairie Liquor employees presented PROP with a check for $10,016.10 donated by customers during the November 2022 Dollar Drive.

Empty Bowls has evolved from a small high school fundraising project to support a food drive in the 1990s to a nationwide grassroots event that supports local food banks, soup kitchens, food shelves, and other organizations that fight hunger. 

PROP Food Shelf has been providing food and emergency services in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen for over 50 years. It is supported by contributions from local businesses, civic organizations, churches, schools, and individuals.

If you cannot attend the event but would still like to support PROP’s Empty Bowls event, donations can be made online at propfood.org or mailed to PROP, 14700 Martin Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. For more information, call 952-937-9120 or visit online.