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VWU Helps Shape Community Tradition at 27th Annual Empty Bowls Charity Dinner
Art students, faculty, and campus partners contribute to annual effort to fight hunger in Hampton Roads
University News | March 11, 2026
Virginia Wesleyan University will once again play a central role in one of Hampton Roads’ most meaningful community traditions as it hosts the 27th Annual Empty Bowls Dinner on March 13 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. The event, organized by the Ceramic Designers Association (CDA), brings together artists, volunteers, and community members to raise funds for local organizations working to combat hunger.
The annual fundraiser, which will welcome an estimated 250–300 attendees, will take place across two locations on the VWU campus. Handcrafted bowls will be displayed in the Jane P. Batten Student Center, while the soup dinner and silent auction will be held in Boyd Dining Center.
A highlight of the evening is the selection of handmade bowls created by local ceramic artists—many of which are produced with the help of VWU faculty and students.
VWU Art Students Shape the Event
For years, VWU Professor of Art Phil Guilfoyle and his students have supported the event in numerous ways, one of which is hosting and participating in a collaborative “Bowl Roll” in the University’s pottery studio. The gathering invites members of the local clay community to create bowls, alongside Guilfoyle and students, specifically for the fundraiser.
“This year we made about 100 bowls, which I then bisque fired,” said Guilfoyle. “Then a few members of CDA returned to the studio to glaze the bowls along with one of our art students, Gabrielle Barnett ’27.”
Several VWU students also contributed their own handcrafted pieces. Barnett, a junior majoring in psychology and art, made four bowls; senior environmental sciences major Mallory Dillon ’26 created a dozen bowls for the event; and first-year art education major Katie Martin ’29 created four bowls for the charity event.
Last week, Guilfoyle completed the final step in the process by glaze firing the bowls in the University’s downdraft gas kiln.
“They turned out beautifully,” he said.
Guilfoyle and Barnett will continue their involvement on the night of the event, volunteering in Boyd Dining Center to welcome guests and help bus tables during the dinner.
A Campus-Wide Collaboration
The event also reflects the collaboration of multiple campus partners. Dining services provider Sodexo plays a key role by preparing the soups and coordinating volunteers.
According to Sodexo Dining Services General Manager Tim Lockett, this year’s event returns to its traditional format on campus, with bowls displayed in the student center and the meal served in the dining hall.
Guests will enjoy a simple meal—chili, minestrone, or seafood soup—prepared by Sodexo and served with donated bread and desserts from local businesses.
Art with a Purpose
Empty Bowls events began in 1990 as a grassroots project by an art teacher seeking to raise awareness about hunger. The concept has since grown into an international movement that has raised millions of dollars for food programs worldwide.
The CDA held its first Empty Bowls Dinner in 1997 and has raised more than $325,000 for local charities over the years. The organization hopes to raise $20,000 at this year’s event.
Each ticket includes a handmade bowl that guests may keep as a reminder of the evening’s purpose: to reflect on the many individuals who go to bed hungry each night.
In total, more than 800 bowls—created by local artists and craftspeople—will be available, along with items for a silent auction. Area garden clubs also contribute flower arrangements displayed in soup cans, which attendees may take home for a small donation.
Supporting the Community
Proceeds from the event support the food programs of several regional organizations, including the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, Judeo-Christian Outreach Center, Samaritan House, Union Mission Ministries, Oasis Social Ministry, and The H.E.R. Shelter.
By hosting the event and contributing both artistic talent and volunteer support, Virginia Wesleyan University continues to demonstrate how creativity, collaboration, and community engagement can make a meaningful difference.
Through handmade bowls and shared meals, CDA’s Empty Bowls Dinner reminds attendees that even small acts—like shaping clay or serving soup—can help address hunger close to home.
Learn more about the 2026 Empty Bowls Charity Dinner.