COMMUNITY BUILD-A-BOWL WORKSHOP

1-3 PM | HENRION HALL, WSU CAMPUS
FREE EVENT, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED

VISITING ARTIST TALK

EDDIE DOMINGUEZ, CREATIVE BY NATURE
1-2 PM | WSU ULRICH MUSEUM
FREE EVENT, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED

CERAMIC NATIONAL INVITATIONAL

OPENING RECEPTION | 5-9 PM
ON VIEW OCT 7-29
REUBEN SAUNDERS GALLERY
ADVANCE CHILI COOK-OFF TICKETS ON SALE

10 HIGH SCHOOLS, 10 BOWLS, 10,000 MEALS

OPENING RECEPTION | 6-9 PM
ON VIEW OCT 7-19
WSU SHIFTSPACE GALLERY
ADVANCE CHILI COOK-OFF TICKETS ON SALE

2022 EMPTY BOWLS CHILI COOK-OFF

11 AM-1 PM | WOOLSEY HALL, WSU CAMPUS
$25 DONATION
$10 STUDENT DONATION

The Empty Bowls Project is an international grassroots movement to help end hunger. Ceramic artists around the world participate every year—and so does Wichita! Wichita State University’s Ceramics Guild, along with Ceramics Media, the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries (ADCI), the Ulrich Museum of Art and many others, work under the leadership of ceramicist and educator Brenda Lichman. It is a celebration of artists, organizations, chefs and community, and offers lots of ways to get involved and join the fight against hunger.

It all begins with Build-a-Bowl events. Organizations as well as individuals interested in making bowls to donate are invited to ADCI’s Henrion Hall for Community Build-a-Bowl day on Saturday, September 24th from 1-3 PM. The bowls are collected, glazed and fired in preparation for the culminating event—the Empty Bowls Chili Cook-Off. Artists interested in donating bowls for the event can reach out to Brenda at blichman@usd259.net and deliver bowls by Friday, October 14th. 

On the day of the Empty Bowls Chili Cook-Off, guests are presented with hundreds of bowls made by artists and community members, and dozens of chilies, soups and delicious desserts to try. Guests pay $25 at the door and select a ceramic bowl to keep. They take their newfound bowl, fill it with chili/soup and eat to their heart’s content.

A jury of up-and-coming chefs from several of the newest, trendiest kitchens in Wichita’s restaurant scene, along with WSU President Dr. Rick Muma, diligently sample the chilies and do the hard work of selecting winners for Best Chili, Best Vegetarian/Vegan Chili and Best Traditional Chili.

All proceeds from ticket sales at the chili cook-off go to the Kansas Food Bank.
$25 donation per person/$10 donation per student (with ID)

We currently have a couple of openings looking for hard working people who want to make a difference! Take a look and apply below. Visit our Careers / Jobs page for more information about benefits and working at the Kansas Food Bank.

Warehouse Associate / Driver [CDL not required]

• Position Description [pdf]
• How to Apply >> APPLY ONLINE

CDL Rural Delivery Driver

• Position Description [pdf]
• How to Apply >> APPLY ONLINE

Food Banks and Pantries Play Critical Role in Feeding Families and Seniors
New hunger study shows neighbors face tough choices to make ends meet

Wichita, KS – Kansas Food Bank and its network of nonprofit pantry partner agencies provide food assistance to someone in need more than 945,000 times each year. That’s one of the findings of a new hunger study released today. Food Assistance and Hunger in the Heartland 2021 – Report for the Kansas Food Bank shows 47 percent of food-insecure neighbors served by Kansas Food Bank’s network in 85 counties get more than half of their monthly food from a food pantry.

The study, conducted by the University of Missouri’s Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security in conjunction with Kansas Food Bank and many of its pantries, is an unprecedented look at those who face food insecurity and the pantries who serve them. It examines the impacts of hunger and the difficult choices many people face to make ends meet.

The study, conducted in the summer of 2021, shows 73,000 different people receive food assistance each month from the food pantries and mobile food distributions in Kansas Food Bank’s network. The study does not measure those served by Kansas Food Bank’s network of congregate meal sites and shelters, senior box programs or summer and weekend (Food 4 Kids) feeding programs for children.

“Many families and seniors impacted by the pandemic are still struggling to get back on their feet” said Kansas Food Bank President and CEO Brian Walker. “Inflation, food shortages, and rising food and transportation costs this year have made those challenges even more difficult for families and individuals facing hunger.”

Over half of the households served make less than $15,000 a year forcing them to make tough choices. Forty-eight percent of households have had to choose between paying for food or utilities, 39 percent have had to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care, and 33 percent have had to choose between paying for food and paying for housing.

Households cope with food insecurity in a variety of ways. Sixty percent report buying the cheapest food available regardless of its nutritional value. Thirty-nine percent have eaten food past its expiration date, 25 percent pawned or sold personal items, and 16 percent have watered down food or drinks.

“This report gives us some insight into who our food insecure neighbors are and what they go through just to put food on the table” said Kansas Food Bank President & CEO Brian Walker. “It lets us know that food insecurity is all around us, children, families, seniors, veterans, college students. The food bank services and network agencies are vital to so many in the community to fill those times when food is scarce.”

Households relying on Kansas Food Bank’s pantry network for food often face challenges related to their health and well-being. Sixty-two percent have at least one person with high blood pressure, and 43 percent reported at least one person with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Nearly half of households served have at least one member without any kind of health insurance.

“No one should ever go hungry. This report will help us to ensure our food insecure neighbors have the nutritious food they need” said Walker. “Having nutritious food is the first step in creating a healthier community.”

Among key findings in the Kansas Food Bank report:

• 45 percent of households reported having at least one child under the age of 18
• 37 percent of households reported having at least one adult over the age of 65
• 49 percent of the households include at least one adult who worked during the last 12 months
• 79 percent of neighbors have attained a high school degree or general equivalency diploma (GED)
• In 14 percent of households, at least one member has served in the military
• Only 41 percent of households served receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps). But, 82 percent of those served have incomes making them eligible for SNAP
• Kansas Food Bank provides 62 percent of the food distributed by the pantry agencies in its network

A summary of the findings is available on the Hunger Stats page here on our website.