Arcadia University raised $3,137 to benefit regional, national, and international organizations fighting hunger and homelessness as hundreds of community members came to campus for the 29th annual Empty Bowl Dinner.

Since its start in 1993, Empty Bowl has raised approximately $165,000. Proceeds from the event support the Knights for Nutrition Food Pantry, Philadelphia Rise Against Hunger, and Family Promise of Philadelphia. 

“I’ve been coming to Empty Bowl since 2013, and I still have a bunch of the bowls at home,” said Anna Dolan, a Hatboro resident who attended with her daughter, Rachel Dolan. “I really like the event because it’s for a good cause. I’m happy that it’s fully back in person this year.”

Attendees got to select and take home a ceramic bowl handcrafted by an Arcadia community member, local artists, and students at area schools. After selecting a bowl in Grey Towers Castle, they were treated to endless soup in the Great Room featuring beef chili, chunk potato, tomato bisque, and broccoli cheddar. 

“I came because I heard about it in my first-year seminar, and I’m really glad I did,” said Elissa Shuman ’26, a first-year Graphic Design major who came with her friend, August Patterson ’26, a first-year Cultural Anthropology major. “It’s a community-building event, which is required for the seminar, and it helps people. The soup was also really good, and the bowls are cute.” 

Both Shuman and Patterson said they will keep their bowls as decorations for their rooms in Kistler Hall. 

Attendees of the event this year also donated non-perishable food items, which will be given to people in need this Thanksgiving season.