Empty Bowls Blends Art and Cuisine to Combat North Texas Hunger

PLANO, TX – January 28, 2026 – As the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) prepares to host its 26th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, the event stands as more than just a charity dinner. It is a powerful fusion of art, culinary excellence, and community action aimed squarely at a growing crisis. On February 26, the community will gather for an evening designed to fill the plates of thousands of neighbors, even as guests take home an empty bowl as a poignant reminder of the work that remains.

Presented by Kroger, the event will transform the NTFB's Perot Family Campus in Plano into a vibrant hub of generosity, featuring tastings from top local chefs, live music, and a silent auction. Yet, at its core, the fundraiser is a direct response to the sobering reality of food insecurity in the region, using creativity and compassion to mobilize support.

A Tradition of Compassion and Creativity

For 26 years, Empty Bowls has been a cornerstone of the NTFB's fundraising efforts, a testament to its enduring appeal and impact. The event has historically helped provide over 9 million meals for North Texans in need, raising more than $3 million in the process. The premise is simple yet profound: guests enjoy a night of fine food and fellowship, and in return, their support helps stock the shelves of the food bank's vast network.

This year's culinary experience will be led by celebrity chef Nikky Phinyawatana, the acclaimed founder and chef of the Asian Mint restaurant group. Known for her innovative approach to Thai cuisine, which has earned her a place on CultureMap’s Top 100 Restaurants list, Chef Nikky brings a passion for community engagement that mirrors the event's mission. Her participation underscores the deep commitment of the local culinary scene to addressing social issues. Guests will have the opportunity to sample a variety of signature dishes from other leading area chefs, accompanied by live entertainment from the Texas Jazz Cats.

“We’re excited to mark the 26th year of Empty Bowls and the lasting impact this event has had in supporting our mission to close the hunger gap in North Texas,” said Trisha Cunningham, President and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. “Together with our presenting sponsor, Kroger, Empty Bowls has helped provide nearly 9 million meals for children, families, and seniors.”

Confronting a Stark Reality in North Texas

Behind the vibrant atmosphere of the fundraiser lies a stark and urgent need. Texas continues to rank first in the nation for the number of people facing hunger, and the 12-county service area of the North Texas Food Bank is an epicenter of this crisis. According to recent data, nearly 744,000 individuals in the region—or 1 in 6 people—are food insecure, unsure of where their next meal will come from.

The situation has worsened recently, with the food insecurity rate climbing to 16.1% in the past year. Children are disproportionately affected, with about one-third of those facing hunger being kids. An estimated 254,420 children, or 1 in 5, in the NTFB's service area are living in food-insecure households. This translates to an annual meal gap exceeding 146 million meals, a staggering deficit that community efforts like Empty Bowls work to close.

Economic pressures, including a 22% increase in grocery prices over the last five years, have forced many families to make impossible choices between buying food and paying for housing, utilities, or medical care. The data also reveals significant disparities, with Black and Hispanic communities experiencing food insecurity at much higher rates. It is this pervasive, often hidden, crisis that the North Texas Food Bank and its partners work tirelessly to address every day.

The Power of Sustained Partnership

The longevity and success of Empty Bowls are built on a foundation of robust, long-term partnerships. Kroger, the event's presenting sponsor, has been a key ally for over a decade. This collaboration is part of a relationship that spans more than 40 years, dating back to the food bank's earliest days. Kroger’s support is funneled through its ambitious Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative, a corporate commitment to ending hunger and eliminating waste across its operations.

“Kroger is proud to continue our support of Empty Bowls as the presenting sponsor,” said John Votava, Director of Corporate Affairs for Kroger’s Dallas Division. “Through our Zero Hunger Zero Waste commitment, we work year-round with the North Texas Food Bank to provide families across North Texas with access to the fresh, nutritious food and resources they need when they need it the most.”

Annually, Kroger donates millions of pounds of fresh food and significant financial resources to hunger relief in the region. This deep-seated corporate support is bolstered by a wide array of community sponsors, including Ewing Buick GMC, MUFG Bank, 4Change Energy, USA Compression, AMN Healthcare, and WellMed, among others. This coalition of corporate and family sponsors demonstrates a broad-based community resolve to tackle hunger head-on.

More Than a Meal: The Symbolism of the Empty Bowl

Perhaps the most distinctive element of the event is the one each guest takes home: a unique, handcrafted bowl. Created and donated by local artists, pottery groups, and woodturners, including contributors from Trinity Ceramics and the Dallas Area Woodturners, these bowls are the event's central symbol. They serve as a tangible, daily reminder that for many in the community, the bowl remains empty.

The artistic effort is a community-wide collaboration. In past years, educational institutions like North Lake Ceramics have mobilized students and faculty to create hundreds of bowls, with suppliers like Trinity Ceramics donating hundreds of pounds of clay to the cause. This grassroots artistic involvement connects the creative community directly to the mission of hunger relief, transforming a simple piece of pottery into a powerful statement of solidarity and a call to action.

Tickets for the 21-and-older event are available for $100 at ntfb.org/event/empty-bowls-2026. Each ticket sold will enable the North Texas Food Bank to provide 300 nutritious meals to neighbors in need, turning an evening of generosity into a direct and meaningful impact for families across the region.