Urban Ministries of Durham Fights Hunger with Empty Bowls Event

Durham, N.C. – February 12, 2008 - Gourmet soup, live jazz, and local celebrities will be on hand at Urban Ministries of Durham’s Empty Bowls benefit on Thursday evening, March 6th, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Durham Armory, 220 Foster Street.  The event supports UMD’s work to eliminate hunger and its root causes.

For $30, each Empty Bowls attendee can enjoy a taste of soup from six of Durham’s hottest eateries, along with fresh-baked bread and desserts provided by local businesses and community partners.  Attendees also choose a handcrafted keepsake pottery bowl from among more than 500 donated by area potters.  A panel of local celebrity judges will declare “The Best Soup in Durham.”

Participating restaurants include Watts Grocery, Blu Seafood and Bar, Six Plates Wine Bar, Symposium Café, Whole Foods Market Café, Pao Lim Asian Bistro, and the Fairview Dining Room at the Washington Duke Inn.   Soup judges include Frank Stasio, host of WUNC Radio’s The State of Things; WTVD news anchor Larry Stogner; Jennings Brody, owner of Parker and Otis; and Durham Mayor Bill Bell.  Bowls are donated by potters associated with Claymakers and Clayworks pottery guilds.

Tickets may be purchased at Urban Ministries, 410 Liberty St., or at the door.  Family discounts and meal-only (no bowl) options are available.  Due to generous corporate and community support, one hundred percent of ticket proceeds goes directly to UMD’s hunger relief efforts.

A group of Michigan potters created Empty Bowls in 1991.  The program is now a national fundraising event that raises millions of dollars to fight hunger around the world.  This is Durham’s second Empty Bowls event.

Click here to download the event poster Adobe PDF file (2 Mb).