Laurier will host the 12th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser for the Food Bank of Waterloo online

April 29, 2021
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – Wilfrid Laurier University is hosting the 12th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser virtually this year to raise funds for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region and awareness about hunger in the community. The fundraiser will be presented by Laurier’s Robert Langen Art Gallery, in collaboration with the Waterloo Potters’ Workshop and the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

Empty Bowls will be held on Thursday, June 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. via Zoom. Registration opens on May 3 at 8 a.m. Empty Bowls is open to the public and donations to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region are encouraged. The first 125 registrants will be eligible to receive a handmade bowl created by a member of the Waterloo Potters’ Workshop.

“As host for this charitable initiative, I am very proud that the gallery has enabled the Laurier community and public at large to come together to support the Food Bank of Waterloo Region,” said Suzanne Luke, curator of the Robert Langen Art Gallery and emcee of the event.

This year’s event is sponsored by the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association and will include a silent auction, featuring items provided by the Laurier Bookstore, the Waterloo Potters’ Workshop and local artist Laurie Wonfor Nolan.

Wonfor Nolan will be conducting a live painting performance in response to the musical improvisation of Laurier music students Tim Maguire and Ramya Ramachandran. The event will also include soup-making demonstrations from Chef Cory Armitage from Laurier Food Services, Jeyas Balaskanthan from the Laurier Students’ Union and Patrick McMahon from Veritas Café.

Wendi Campbell, the chief executive officer of the Food Bank of Waterloo Region will provide remarks, as will Deborah MacLatchy, Laurier’s president and vice-chancellor; Jennifer Small, a member of the Waterloo Potters’ Workshop; and Gohar Ashoughian, Laurier’s university librarian.

Empty Bowls was also held virtually in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, but nonetheless raised $10,547 – about double the amount raised in a typical year. Since the pandemic began, there has been a significant increase in demand for food at the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. In light of the growing need in the community, organizers hope to surpass last year’s total by raising $15,000, which will provide 45,000 meals. One hundred per cent of proceeds from donations and the silent auction will go directly to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. 

“The Empty Bowls event is set to be an exciting virtual gathering of community showing their charitable support for an important cause,” said Carleen Carroll, assistant vice-president of External Relations. “Laurier invites the community to register and make a donation to help the Food Bank of Waterloo Region feed the most vulnerable among us during this global pandemic. The Food Bank is working tirelessly to feed our community. Let's continue to help our neighbours!” Registration for Empty Bowls is free and opens on May 3 at 8 a.m.