BY DEBBIE PAGE
The 2025 Empty Bowls Annual Fundraiser benefitting Fifth Street Ministries will be on Sunday, November 16, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, located at 125 N Meeting Street in Statesville.
For over 10 years, the Empty Bowls event has brought together local artisans, restaurants, families, and businesses to enjoy a warm meal of specialty soups, take home a hand-crafted artisan bowl donated by longtime Fifth Street supporter Gin Scott of CrEaTe Pottery, and support the life-changing mission of Fifth Street Ministries.
Scott was the volunteer coordinator for the medical clinic previously housed at Fifth Street Ministries and served on the organization’s Board of Directors for 12 years. She believes that Fifth Street is an incredible blessing and asset to the community and serves people in ways that most do not realize as a safety net for the most vulnerable.
The beautiful bowls featured at the event were made possible by Scott’s generosity to provide the clay, firing, and glazing at her teaching studio. Staff, students, and studio members donated their time to make the bowls.
After Scott fired the pottery, the group met again, with additional volunteers, to glaze the bowls. Scott said these pieces are an offering from the pottery community and that many community members were involved in their creation.
Celebrity servers will be waiting tables at the event, including Statesville native and NFL player Vinson Smith, Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh, Doug and Carol Hendrix, Beth & Co. owner Beth Davidson, Miss Statesville 2026 Amber Potts, Miss Statesville’s Teen 2026 Isabella DiFiore, and Miss High Point’s Teen 2025 Carrie Rader.
Those attending Empty Bowls can enjoy soup, salad, dessert, and a drink for $45 and will receive a beautiful hand-crafted artisan bowl. Tickets are available through November 14 at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fifthstreetministries/event/2025emptybowlsfundraisereventtickets/.
Tickets at the door to enjoy the meal only are $20 each (adults and children).
Soups this year include chili from JD’s Deli, vegetable from Iredell Health System, tomato bisque from Amanda Caldwell, and creamy Italian sausage and potato from The Truk food truck.
BE A BOWL SPONSOR!
Organizers are seeking bowl sponsors at $500 each. More than 40 businesses and community members have helped Fifth Street toward its goal of 120 sponsorships. To become a sponsor, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fifthstreetministries/event/2025emptybowlssponsorship500fifthstreetministries/.
HUNGER GROWING IN COMMUNITY
This event is not just about soup and bowls. Funds raised provide shelter, meals, and hope to neighbors in need.
As Fifth Street Ministries Executive Director Tamara Roach put it: “Empty bowls at this event become full plates for hungry community members.”
Roach said the shelter has experienced a recent influx of people needing food, prepared meals, and other assistance, with the numbers expected to rise further with disruption to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on November 1.
She said the homeless street population is also increasing. Fifth Street is assisting them through the Community Kitchen and the Path House.
“There are a lot of hungry folks here,” Roach said.
Each meal served in the kitchen costs about $1.66, including food and staff expenses.
“Raising funds for the kitchen is a way for the community to show compassion for those we are serving,” said Roach, who noted the profound gratitude clients demonstrate as they enjoy the meals and other services that Fifth Street provides through the community’s generosity.
Director of Philanthropy Todd Fowler encourages everyone to support the Empty Bowls event, the primary annual fundraiser for Fifth Street’s Community Kitchen program.
Food insecurity is a real concern in Iredell County, where more than 13,000 individuals rely on SNAP benefits each month to feed their families, and across North Carolina, that number tops 1.4 million people.
The hot meal program at Fifth Street, open to residents and those neighbors who are food insecure, served 64,000 meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) last year.
Fowler said Fifth Street’s kitchen currently serves about 200 meals per day.
Crisi Cooney, chair of the fundraising committee at Fifth Street, thanked First Presbyterian Church and its congregation for their continuing support of the event. The church’s youth group is also helping with set up and clean up.
Cooney also expressed gratitude to Teresa Kutteh and Caldwell, both of whom have been instrumental in planning the Empty Bowls fundraiser.
