A Message from Trisha Cunningham
We’re thrilled to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Empty Bowls with you tonight! Presented by Kroger, this signature event raises crucial funds to support the 1 in 7 North Texans facing hunger.
Sadly, Texas now leads the nation in hunger, with nearly 5 million neighbors experiencing food insecurity, and in the 12 counties served by the North Texas Food Bank, nearly 664,000 people face hunger, including 1 in 5 children. Texas boasts of being bigger in many aspects, but this is not a badge of honor we can proudly wear.
The North Texas Food Bank is working to close that hunger gap, and in the last fiscal year provided access to 106 million physical meals. Our Social Services Assistance team also provided access to nearly 20 million meals through SNAP, a benefit program for which they help neighbors apply.
That work is only possible thanks to the generosity of supporters like you. Since its inception 24 years ago, Empty Bowls guests and sponsors have raised $2.7 million, which equates to more than 8 million meals for children, families and older adults facing hunger.
As a guest tonight, you will have the opportunity to select a bowl handcrafted by a local artisan to take home. We hope it can serve as a reminder that not everyone’s bowl is full, and that the impact you are making with your attendance is significant. Thank you to all of the potters represented by Trinity Ceramics, as well as Dallas Area Woodturners, for providing those bowls.
As you enjoy bowl-friendly fare, libations and music this evening, please help me in giving a special thanks to our presenting sponsor. Kroger has been a critical partner of NTFB since its founding more than 40 years ago, both through gifts of food and funds. Thank you for partnering with us and for being a consistent champion of our mission and work.
Tonight would not be the evening that it is without the gift of time and talent from our participating restaurants. A special thanks to this year’s celebrity guest chef, Brian Luscher, culinary director of 33 Restaurant Group, which includes Taverna Rossa, Union Bear and other eateries. Participating restaurants include: Asian Mint, Bread Zeppelin, Celebration Restaurant & Catering, Dallas Grilled Cheese Company, Empire Baking Company, Lockhart Smokehouse, McRae’s American Bistro & Cocktails, Mozzarella Company, Red Stix, Seager & Sons, Shake Shack, Suburban Yacht Club, Taverna Rossa, The Texas Barn at Circle T Ranch, Union Bear and Urban Rio Cantina & Grill.
Along with Kroger, I want to express our gratitude to each of our additional sponsors: Ewing Buick GMC, MUFG, Pollock Orora, 4Change Energy, Ambit Energy, Betsy & Mark Kleinman, the family of Jan Pruitt, Dallas Area Woodturners, AlphaGraphics, Scout & Cellar, NBC 5/Telemundo 39, Republic National Distributing Company, and our mission sponsors HungerMitao, Nakayoshi, Nihao and SinHambre.
Thank you for joining us for this special anniversary event, and for standing alongside us as we work toward a hunger-free, healthy North Texas.
Gratefully,
Trisha Cunningham
President & CEO
North Texas Food Bank