The 26th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser hopes to feed thousands of Texans in need. (Joel Muniz/Unsplash).
The 26th annual North Texas Food Bank Empty Bowls Fundraiser is scheduled for Feb. 26. Here are all the details.
In North Texas, 1 in 6 people (around 774,000 residents) face food insecurity, meaning they’re unsure of when they’ll have their next meal. To combat this ongoing issue, the North Texas Food Bank offers a variety of services, including access to food pantries and meal programs. And, on February 26, the food bank will hold its annual fundraiser, Empty Bowls, to hopefully raise enough money to provide millions of meals to those in need.
North Texas Food Bank’s vice president of external affairs, Sarah Burns, told NBCDFW that the fundraiser is essential because hunger impacts thousands of people across the state, though many are unaware of when others are suffering. “It probably is somebody that lives next door to you. We have hunger insecurity in every ZIP code here in North Texas and the DFW region is actually one of the most food-insecure regions in the nation.” To aid in the food bank’s mission, FCS Clayworks organized volunteers and studio members to help design and create bowls for the upcoming Empty Bowls event.
John Campbell was one of those volunteers. He said he takes his time crafting each dish to ensure they’re perfect for the families who will eat off of them. He said he wanted to participate because, “Times like this, man, everybody should come up and help — this is the least I can do to step up and help people that need help.” Burns echoed Campbell’s thoughts, saying, “We can’t all do everything, but we can all do something. That’s really impactful, and honestly, it’s a reflection of this community that we live in that’s so generous.”
That North Texas generosity helped raise close to $500,000 last year during the 2025 Empty Bowls fundraiser, and in doing so, provided over one million meals to local families. Tickets are still available for the 26th annual event, which will be held next Thursday at the North Texas Food Bank in Plano.
Details about the North Texas Food Bank’s Empty Bowls Fundraiser
Tickets are still available for the 2026 Empty Bowls Fundraiser. The event takes place on Thursday, February 26 at the North Texas Food Bank’s Perot Family Campus located at 3677 Mapleshade Lane in Plano. Please note that the event is for people 21 years of age and older. Every guest will be treated to a bowl-friendly meal prepared by local restaurants and chefs. Shopping, live entertainment, and a silent auction are also scheduled to take place throughout the evening.
If you would like to buy tickets, please click here. For those unable to attend the event but who still want to support their community, donations to the North Texas Food Bank can be made directly at this link.
