Click Here to view our 2025 Empty Bowls Sponsors Empty Bowls is back! The much-loved Empty Bowls event will take place on May 4, 2025, to raise money and awareness for the issue of food insecurity in northwest Michigan.   When: Sunday, May 4, 2025 Where: Howe Arena in Traverse City MI Directions Times: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm This year’s event will focus on child food security. The need for food is greater than ever: 39% increase in our food pantry visits 24% increase in our meal site visits 41% of Michigan families do not earn enough to afford… Read More »

Click Here to view our 2024 Empty Bowls Sponsors View our 2023 Empty Bowls Sponsors Empty Bowls is back! The much-loved Empty Bowls event will take place on April 28, 2024, to raise money and awareness for the issue of food insecurity in northwest Michigan.   When: Sunday, April 28, 2024 Where: Howe Arena in Traverse City MI Directions Times: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm This year’s event will showcase the connection between Empty Bowls and the artist community here in Northern Michigan with the theme Heartful Artists…brushing away hunger.  Plans are still in the works, but we hope to… Read More »

Christina Barkel, the food equity specialist for Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities recently wrote an op-ed piece for Bridgemi.com. “I’m thinking of a day a few years back when I witnessed something that was plain on the surface, but which was actually evidence of a micro-revolution in food access and it happened in a Traverse City parking lot. It represents a revolution that provides far healthier foods for food pantry and meal site clients, while providing economic support for farm families and communities. And what I saw that day was a change that can benefit farmers and families all across… Read More »

Honor Bank’s Honor Thy Neighbor Campaign Raises $13,000 Traverse City, MI, October 26, 2022 – Honor Bank and its clients are making a positive impact on northern Michigan’s food insecurity challenges with the 2022 Honor Thy Neighbor campaign, which raised $8,000 and Honor Bank contributed an additional $5,000 for a total contribution of $13,000. Proceeds from the campaign will benefit the Northwest Michigan Food Coalition’s Farm2 Neighbor program, along with the Bear Lake and Buckley food pantries. “The Northwest Food Coalition is excited to be chosen by Honor Bank as the recipient of their campaign. The Coalition proudly focuses on… Read More »

The mission of the Northwest Food Coalition is to empower member food programs by coordinating and creating resources to achieve regional food security. The Farm2Neighbor program purchases fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers and distributes them to hungry neighbors through local pantries and meal sites. Both are in the news. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the U.S., the staff at Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities in Northwest Michigan met to brainstorm about what they could do in response. Read more at: Community Organizations Across America Join Forces With Farmers to Save Crops, Feed Neighbors in Need The Farm… Read More »

Click Here to view our 2023 Empty Bowls Sponsors Empty Bowls is back! The much-loved Empty Bowls event will take place on April 30, 2023, to raise money and awareness for the issue of food insecurity in northwest Michigan.   When: Sunday, April 30, 2023 Where: Howe Arena in Traverse City MI Directions Times: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Empty Bowls is a fundraiser that supports food security in Northwest Michigan. Proceeds will be used to purchase healthy produce and protein from local farms for distribution to the Northwest Food Coalition’s 75+ food pantry and emergency meal sites. Event attendees… Read More »

December 8, 2020 | 10:00-11:30 am EST
This first session seeks to refresh the lens at which we look at food insecurity and hunger. Watch this session to hear panelists and neighbors share their experiences of food security.

January 12, 2021 | 10:00-11:30 am EST
The second session takes a look at both government and non-profit food assistance programs through the lenses of those operating the programs. Learn about the challenges these public and private programs have encountered during the pandemic and local responses to the increased community needs. This session includes representatives from government programs, food pantries, school nutrition programs, community meal sites, and organizations related to food assistance programs.

January 26, 2021 | 10:00-11:30 am EST
The third session focuses on how decisions are made to address the needs of those experiencing food insecurity, and who is making those decisions. The session includes a reflection in the way decisions have been made in the past, and opportunities for understanding needs and root causes and making meaningful and high impact decisions together in the future.

February 9, 2021 | 10:00-11:30 am EST
The fourth session focuses on how and where people in need get access to ‘healthy’ food. This session explores why ‘healthy’ food matters, and how people facing food insecurity know what type of ‘healthy’ food assistance is available. This session also explores how access to ‘healthy’ food has changed during COVID. Speakers and panelists share perspectives and insights regarding what works well about the way people learn about and get access to enough food that is ‘healthy’, what are the barriers to getting enough ‘healthy’ food, and potential solutions to address obstacles.