Hundreds of downtown Phoenix residents and employees gathered on Friday at the Arizona Center to help nonprofit Waste Not raise funds to feed the hungry.
Empty Bowls is an event that takes place only once a year at the Arizona Center and is set up by Waste Not and several other sponsors. The concept of the event is simple: sell one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls for a donation of $12 that will go toward feeding the underprivileged. The bowls serve as a reminder that someone’s bowl is always empty.
Shasta Ahumada, manager at Sam’s Cafe, is a sponsor of the event and said each sale goes toward feeding 75 people. Ahumada hoped this year’s event would be even more successful than the last.
“We’re hoping to sell 800 bowls this year,” she said. “The turnout looks great. I looks better than the year before, which reminds us the economy is getting better. The turnout of so many gives us hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Many people at the event walked to the check out-stand carrying several bowls. Some of the event-goers also took the opportunity to do some early holiday shopping — all while helping a good cause.
“Every year that they’ve had it here, I’ve looked forward to it,” said Clara Santa Maria, 49, a legal secretary from north Phoenix. “Sometimes I buy Christmas presents here, and it’s for a good cause.”
The cause is close to Santa Maria’s heart.
“Someone close to my life was homeless at one time, and I see it on the streets all the time,” she said.
The Arizona Center has been hosting Empty Bowls for more than 15 years, according to Dee Mitten, executive director of Waste Not. The downtown lunchtime crowd has the opportunity to choose from thousands of unique bowls that are donated by local artists and vendors.
“I love it. It’s a chance to pick up a great piece of beautiful art, and it’s a great charity,” said Brenda Deckard, 55, a clerical assistant from Goodyear.
According to feedingamerica.org, 17.4 percent of Arizonans are food insecure.
Waste Not is attempting to help people around the Valley who suffer from food insecurity by delivering to over 100 different organizations and agencies, including after-school programs, homeless shelters, rehab centers, transition homes and senior facilities.
“It’s a shame that a country as wealthy as ours has so many people going hungry every day,” said Lisa Harrow, 50, a paralegal from northeast Scottsdale.
Harrow has been attending Empty Bowls for 10 years. She said the event is a lot of fun and participants have the opportunity to get something that reminds them that some people aren’t as fortunate to have a meal.
Waste Not hopes to raise $20,000 this year. All 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward operational costs to generate and deliver food to these facilities.
Waste Not picks up over 6,000 pounds of perishable food from local businesses that would ordinarily be thrown out. Waste Not begins its pickup at 6:30 a.m. and delivers the food within the same day.
Contact the reporter at ruby.ramirez.1@asu.edu
