PROP’s Empty Bowls fundraiser on Feb. 20 rallies community against hunger

PROP Food is gearing up for its annual Empty Bowls 2024 fundraiser on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 13600 Technology Drive, in Eden Prairie.  

This event offers a day filled with food, music, and community engagement, aiming to raise awareness and funds for hunger, housing, and employment insecurity in the Eden Prairie and Chanhassen areas.

To achieve this, the tradition of serving a simple meal — soup, bread and a beverage — will continue. Lunch will be available from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by dinner from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

This year, PROP is expanding the event with the introduction of the Empty Bowls After Party. Scheduled to take place at Fat Pants Brewing Company, located at 8335 Crystal View Road, from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., this addition aims to boost engagement and fundraising efforts for the annual event.

Jenifer Loon, PROP’s executive director, emphasized the event’s dual importance as a fundraising opportunity and a platform for raising awareness about local food insecurity.

“We have many wonderful community organizations, members, and supporters who do events for PROP to raise money all year long,” Loon said. “But PROP puts on only one fundraiser itself each year, and it’s Empty Bowls.”

She stressed the ongoing importance of these initiatives, noting her encounters with many unaware of the extent of food insecurity in the area.

“Our services are very much needed and, in fact, the demand has been growing and continues to grow,” Loon added.

Loon stated that a PROP statistician analyzed the 2023 data, showing services were provided to almost 4,800 individuals.

“That gives you some sense of how rapidly our client base is growing and how fast the need has been growing, especially for food support,” she said. “But across all of our services, our financial assistance for emergency housing and others has also been growing rapidly.”

Loon often presents these facts as both good and bad news. The good news is the strong community support that allows PROP to assist a growing number of people.

However, the increasing need for assistance remains a concern.

“Everyone who shops at the grocery store has seen how inflation, especially in food, significantly impacts their budget,” she explained. “Many of the families we assist are employed in lower-wage jobs, and their earnings are insufficient for covering both rent and groceries. That’s where PROP steps in to provide support.”

Regarding the After Party, Loon detailed that Fat Pants Brewing Co. offered their Hopspot Brew Hall for the event without charge, allowing for a cost-effective gathering.

The main event at St. Andrew Lutheran Church is free, with voluntary donations encouraged.

Admission to the After Party is $10, covering a choice of a cold brew or non-alcoholic beverage, snacks and entertainment. Tickets are available ahead of time via an Eventbrite link or can be bought at the door.

Loon sees the After Party as serving a dual purpose: “Not only does it cap off the day’s events, but it also appeals to those who may not make it to the lunch or dinner service. It’s an opportunity to relax, enjoy a beer, and experience live entertainment from Wondercure, a band well-known in Eden Prairie.”

Despite last year’s challenges with weather affecting attendance, Loon remains hopeful for this year’s event.

“We struggled a bit with a snowstorm that really dampened attendance for the evening meal last year,” she recalled. “So, hopefully, this is all the snow we’re getting, and it’ll be great weather on the 20th.”