SPRINGFIELD, OH – The 31st annual Empty Bowls event at Wittenberg was a success once again, raising $39,242 for the Second Harvest Food Bank in Springfield.

The spring event aims to combat hunger in the local community, and this year’s fundraising total equates to 196,210 meals for those in need. Wittenberg’s Department of Art in conjunction with Second Harvest hosted Empty Bowls, March 27, in the Center Dining Room (CDR) of the Benham-Pence Student Center. The event is virtually a 100-percent profit fundraiser with almost all the materials, food, and time being donated each year.

The 31-year fundraising total for the event now exceeds $705,785, which equates to more than 3,992,303 meals for those in need in Clark, Champaign, and Logan counties. Empty Bowls exemplifies Wittenberg’s service-based mission, which encourages all students to discern their vocations and to understand the meaningful connection between self-fulfillment and service to the world.

“Thanks to all of you that came out to support the event – it’s truly inspirational,” said Professor of Art Scott Dooley, who has helped to coordinate the annual event since its inception.

Dooley also gave a shout-out to Wittenberg’s Parkhurst dining staff. Parkhurst was a major event sponsor for Empty Bowls and helped with food preparation and clean-up for the event. Alpha and Omega custodial services helped with the set-up and take-down in the CDR and alternative food set-up for students. Dooley also thanked all the event sponsors, as well as those who spent time making this year’s bowls.

Second Harvest Food Bank’s Allie Godfrey, marketing and events associate, worked tirelessly to line up food donors, event sponsors, and volunteers. Second Harvest handled much of the event coordination, worked with area businesses to donate soup, and solicited event sponsors from the community.

Bowls were made by Carol Culbertson, Scott Dooley, Susan Finster, Ted Vander Roest, and Wittenberg students Dawson Smith ’26 from Grove City, Ohio; Erin Reichert ’25 from Perrysburg, Ohio; Jillian Paskvan ’27 from Galloway, Ohio; Sage Wilke ’25 from Springfield, Ohio; Aaron Miller ’25 from West Chester, Ohio; Paige Rudolf ’25 from Saint Paris, Ohio; Olivia Hamilton ’25 from Lyndhurst, Ohio; Ashley James ’25 from Glenford, Ohio; and Matt Kehlbeck ’26 from Marysville, Ohio.

In-kind sponsors included Parkhurst Dining, Wittenberg University, and Springfield High School.