Empty Bowls “is a grassroots movement by artists and crafts people in cities and towns around the world to raise money for food related charities to care for and feed the hungry in their communities.  (emptybowls.com)

In 2024 community members in the Townshend, Vermont, area coordinated the first Empty Bowls Townshend event at the West Townshend Country Store in support of Townshend Community Food Shelf. The effort in February 2025 with a change of venue to the Townshend Chuch which houses the local nonprofit, Townshend Community Food Shelf which serves.

In the tradition of Empty Bowls, our Townshend area events have featured bowls -ceramic, glass, wooden- locally made and donated by area artisans. Area businesses and musicians have provided a simple soup meal and an evening of entertainment while attendees select a bowl and pause to reflect on area hunger on a cold winter evening.

Thank you all for our 2025 event: 802 Credit Union and WW, 2025 local sponsors; bowls by Emma Davis, Hatchspace, Killer B Pottery, Lasser Ceramics, Leland & Gray, Masterman Ceramics, Maya Zelkin Pottery, Meadows Bee Farm, The Painted Rabbit Pottery, Rising Forest Pottery and Robert DuGrenier Glass Art Gallery; meal provided by Bread from the Earth, The Newfane Store, Village Specialties and WRCP/West Townshend Country Store; musicians, Andy Davis and Laurie Indenbaum.

Be in touch if you are interested in helping with Empty Bowls Townshend ‘26!

First Annual Empty Bowls Townshend Event, held at the West Townshend Country Store, Feb 2024, with Bob Ray & Friends performing

Townshend Community Food Shelf serves Townshend, West Townshend, Newfane, Brookline, Jamaica, Athens, Wardsboro, Windham and Winhall

2025 volunteers and attendees enjoyed an evening of locally made soups and bread while listening to music by Andy Davis and Laurie Indenbaum at the Townshend Church