PROP hosts virtual Empty Bowls: Family-friendly fundraising to address food insecurity

PROP’s popular fundraising event, Empty Bowls, returns for its 10th year on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

Being held virtually again this year, Empty Bowls will raise awareness and seek financial support help all next week for PROP to fulfill its mission of combatting hunger and food insecurity in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen. 

“Every month, over 1,000 individuals seek the assistance of PROP to help ensure they and their families have enough food to eat,” said Jenifer Loon, PROP’s executive director. “When our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet, PROP is there, offering hope and the support they need. PROP has been providing food and vital financial support, including emergency housing aid and other services, for 50 years.”

Loon said she is especially proud that Mayor Ron Case and the rest of the Eden Prairie City Council proclaimed Feb. 22 as Empty Bowls Day in the city this year.

“It’s a wonderful reminder of how our community came together many years ago to create PROP, and PROP continues to be there, every day, for anyone who needs it,” she continued. “Through the continued financial support of individuals, businesses, faith communities and organizations throughout our area, PROP will be here to provide help and hope in abundance.”

There are several ways to participate in Empty Bowls next week.

Support your local restaurant: Each day during the week, PROP will highlight five local “Soup of the Day Restaurants.” Each restaurant has been a long-standing Empty Bowls soup provider. Instead of picking up soup, PROP encourages people to order directly from them. Full menus will be available. A local donor will give $5 to PROP for every order placed up to $500 per day. 

The following are the five participating restaurants:

Feb. 21: Peoples Organic https://www.peoplesorganic.com/eden-prairie

Feb. 22: Houlihan’s (in Chanhassen) https://houlihans.com/Chanhassen

Feb. 23: Tavern 4&5 https://tavern4and5.com

Feb. 24: Kona Grill https://www.konagrill.com

Feb. 25: Crumb Gourmet Deli https://www.crumbdeli.com

Take a complimentary bowl home: Smith Coffee & Cafe, 8107 Eden Prairie Road, will hand out a complimentary bowl to anyone who stops by for a warm coffee or more from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 22.

Learn to make chicken wild rice soup and participate in the Empty Bowls’ #PROPSoupChallenge: Loon via video (see below) provides step-by-step instructions for making her version of chicken wild rice soup. After watching the video, people can make the soup for family or friends, then post a picture with the #PROPSoupChallenge hashtag on Facebook to be entered into a drawing for a gift bag from Lakewinds Food Co-op. The drawing will be held on Monday, Feb. 28. Click  https://propfood.org/emptybowls2022/ to see the recipe.

Empty Bowls has evolved from a small high school fundraising project to support a food drive in the 1990s to a nationwide grassroots event supporting local food banks, soup kitchens, food shelves, and other organizations fighting hunger. Millions of dollars have been raised over the last 30 years to combat hunger.  

PROP is supported by contributions from local businesses, civic organizations, churches, schools and individuals to provide these vital services. 

If you can’t make the events but would like to support PROP’s Empty Bowls, donations can be made online at propfood.org or mailed to PROP, 14700 Martin Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. 

For more information, call 952-937-9120 or email prop@propfood.org.