Watered Gardens Ministries to Host 2025 Empty Bowls Event on November 13

Join Watered Gardens Ministries for their 13th annual Empty Bowls event on Thursday, November 13, 2025!

Reminiscent of the “soup lines” from the mid 1930’s, Empty Bowls is a grass roots fundraiser brought to people in cities and towns around the world by artists and crafts people to care for and feed the hungry in their communities. Patrons purchase a handcrafted pottery bowl, enjoy a serving of soup, and then have an empty bowl to take home to remind them that somewhere, someone is hungry.

The 2024 Empty Bowls event will be held at Suzanne’s Natural Foods in Joplin, Missouri on Thursday, November 13 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Some of the local artists who have made bowls include:

• Mark Strayer of North Star Pottery
• Jeff Jones and other artists of The Clay Cup
• Brent Skinner and other artists of Skinner Pottery
• Suzi Huntington of Sumaro Design House
• Chris Kinney of Claybeard Studio
• Josh Novak of Crowder College
• Debbie Miller & Judie Riggen of Walnut Springs Pottery
• The Artificer’s and Sandy Smith of Fort Scott, Kansas
• Daria Claiborne of Joplin
• Angel Brame of Dragonflies & Mud Pottery of Joplin
• Kristi Tucker of Pottery by KT
• Cathleen Bailey of Nighthawk Gallery & Studio in Neosho
• Stephanie Roy of Roy Pottery in Joplin
• Chad Keutzer of Freedom Frontier Enterprises
• Burt Bucher of Labette County Community College
• Patt Heinrich Olsen Studio of Nixa
• Alan Kirby of Hippy Clay of Pittsburg, Kansas

Several area restaurants, organizations, and individuals are also donating soup for patrons to enjoy on event day from their bowl(s). Takeout orders are available on site. Donating restaurants include:

• The Bruncheonette
• Club 1201
• Suzanne’s Natural Foods
• Granny Shaffer’s
• Panera Bread
• Doug Musik of Southwest Missouri Bank
• Redings Mill Bread
• Schlotzsky’s
• Great Western Dining

This event supports organizations that feed people and are 100% privately funded, including We Care of the Four States, Hope Kitchen, and Watered Gardens.

This year’s generous sponsors include:

• Mercy Hospital Joplin
• Southwest Missouri Bank
• Seward’s Insulation
• Binky Guy Textiles
• Jordan CPA Services
• Missouri Eye Institute
• Joplin Greenhouse & Coffee Shop
• Suzanne’s Natural Foods
• Satterlee Plumbing
• TownePlace Suites of Joplin

For more information, please click here.

About Watered Gardens Ministries:

Watered Gardens Ministries serves the local Church in its mission to help the poor. We envision the local Church boldly engaged with the poor and homeless relationally responsibly and compassionately for the transformation of life. Watered Gardens is a privately funded ministry in operation since June of 2000.

Reference:

Ruth Willoughby, Outreach Director
Watered Gardens Ministries
417.825.0536
ruth@wateredgardens.org