- July 11, 2025
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Jeffery Kin, the artistic director of the Players Centre for Performing Arts, pours soup at Empty Bowls.
Violeta Huesman of Kaiser University, gives Lakewood Ranch' s Pam White a hug during Empty Bowls.
Dr. Dina Ciotola of Lakewood Ranch picks her favorite bowl.
Caryn Hodge of The Beach House Restaurant and Kaiser' s Violeta Huesman enjoy the event.
Pam Swart, a visitor from South Africa, looks at one of the 500 bowls up for grabs.
Soup and bread was served, but the bowls were the feature.
Lakewood Ranch' s Margaret Coleman enjoys a slice of life at Empty Bowls.
Lakewood Ranch' s Monaca Onstad brought her puppy, Finn.
Bradenton' s Patsy Steffy, Parrish' s Lisa Emory and Bradenton' s Samantha Cummins sample different soups.
Lakewood Ranch' s Linda Hamil holds her bowl of choice.
Sarasota' s Cheryl Miller was a volunteer from Edward Jones at Empty Bowls.
Joe Angers, a volunteer with The Food Bank of Manatee, pours beer cheese soup.
Soup wasn' t the only star of the day. Each patron received bread as well.
Bradenton' s Deborah Wooten shows off a bowl.
Lakewood Ranch's Margaret Coleman had volunteered to paint some of the ceramic bowls when they were empty.
As she walked down Lakewood Main Street Friday, Coleman saw the difference when those bowls were full.
To Coleman, and the Food Bank of Manatee, a full bowl meant they could feed the hungry.
Those supporting the Empty Bowls fundraiser packed every corner of Main Street and paid $25 for soup, bread and a beautifully painted bowl. The patronizing the event were having a great time, but they knew it was for a good cause.
The generosity on display impressed Pam Swart, a visitor from South Africa.
"This is just a fabulous function," Swart said. "We don't have anything like this (in South Africa). I'll have to take this story home with me."
Thirteen restaurants donated a different soup to the cause.Volunteers had painted 500 bowls for the event.
"It's really nice to see the outcome, and to see people come together for such a good cause," Coleman said.
