Community Turns Out for UCAN’s Ninth Annual Empty Bowls Dinner

ROSEBURG, Ore. - Shelves of colorful handmade bowls greeted guests at UCAN Food Bank on Monday evening as community members gathered for the ninth annual Empty Bowls Dinner.

The Oct. 5 fundraiser drew a strong turnout to the food bank warehouse at 284 NE Kenneth Ford Drive. Guests chose bowls, sampled soups, and shared a meal while supporting food assistance in Douglas County. The Roseburg Receiver and The Roseburg Plug attended the event.

Inside the warehouse, soup stations lined a long table, and guests gathered at dining tables near shelves stocked with food. Bread and other refreshments accompanied the meal, while live music was part of the evening.

Participating soup providers included:

• Shanti’s Indian Cuisine
• Alexander’s Greek Cuisine
• McMenamins Station Pub & Brewery
• UCAN’s Feeding Umpqua
• Little Brother’s Pub
• Seven Thai

The bowls gave guests plenty to choose from. Some featured bright colors and painted designs, while others showed the textures and glazes of handmade pottery. Each guest could take a bowl home after the dinner.

Be Still Studios, Umpqua Valley Arts Association, and Over the Hill Ceramics helped supply bowls, along with individual ceramic artists and other donors. At Over the Hill Ceramics, community members had been invited to paint bowls for the fundraiser, with the studio covering the cost of paint and kiln firing.

The bowls gave guests plenty to choose from. Some featured bright colors and painted designs, while others showed the textures and glazes of handmade pottery. Each guest could take a bowl home after the dinner.

Be Still Studios, Umpqua Valley Arts Association, and Over the Hill Ceramics helped supply bowls, along with individual ceramic artists and other donors. At Over the Hill Ceramics, community members had been invited to paint bowls for the fundraiser, with the studio covering the cost of paint and kiln firing.

The dinner also included a raffle, wine pull, and online silent auction. Contributions from artists, food providers, volunteers, and sponsors helped bring the event together.

Empty Bowls supports the Food Bank’s work supplying food and resources to pantries, kitchens, and other food assistance programs throughout Douglas County. That work also extends into rural communities through UCAN’s Outpost program, which brings food directly to residents in areas including Elkton, Camas Valley, Days Creek, and Diamond Lake.

UCAN had set a $65,000 fundraising goal ahead of the dinner. A confirmed attendance count and fundraising total were not available for this article.

The fundraiser continues beyond Monday’s gathering. According to the event program, the online silent auction remains open until noon Friday, Oct. 9. Anyone can bid, including people who did not attend the dinner.

More information about Empty Bowls and ways to support the Food Bank is available on UCAN’s website.

Disclosure: The Roseburg Receiver is an in-kind media sponsor of the 2026 Empty Bowls Dinner.