Tickets Now Available for UCAN Food Bank’s Ninth Annual Empty Bowls Dinner

ROSEBURG, Ore. - A handcrafted bowl may be what guests take home from UCAN Food Bank’s annual Empty Bowls Dinner, but the evening’s larger purpose is helping ensure Douglas County families have food on their tables.

The ninth annual fundraiser will be held Monday, October 5, at the UCAN Food Bank, 284 NE Kenneth Ford Drive in Roseburg. The event will bring local artists, restaurants, businesses, volunteers and community members together for an evening supporting hunger relief throughout Douglas County.

Nearly 200 people attended last year’s dinner, helping raise more than $49,000. This year, UCAN has set a goal of raising $65,000, enough to provide more than 200,000 meals through its network of 14 emergency food pantries and six community kitchens and shelters.

Empty Bowls began in Douglas County in 2017 through the work of local ceramic artists, community volunteers and food bank supporters. What began with handcrafted bowls sold at community events has grown into one of UCAN Food Bank’s signature fundraisers.

The bowls remain at the heart of the event. Each guest will choose a one-of-a-kind bowl created by local artists and community members, then use it to sample soups prepared by Douglas County restaurants and chefs.

Over the Hill Ceramics in downtown Roseburg has helped community members create bowls for the fundraiser. Participants were invited to select and paint bowls at the studio, with Over the Hill Ceramics covering the cost of the paint and kiln firing so the finished pieces could be donated to the dinner.

The result is a collection of bowls that reflects the generosity and creativity of the community. Each one is different, and each one serves as a reminder that access to nutritious food remains out of reach for some local families.

Participating restaurants and food providers announced so far include:

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

Additional participants may be announced before the event. Artisan breads, drinks and local wine will also be served.

The dinner will include live music, a silent auction, raffle and wine pull. Raffle tickets cost $2 each or six for $10 and will be available online and at the event.

General admission costs $55 and begins at 6 p.m. A $65 early-entry ticket allows guests to enter at 5:30 p.m., giving them additional time to look through the collection and select a bowl. The event continues until 8:30 p.m.

The bowl each guest carries home is intended to remain a visible reminder of the reason for the gathering. Money raised during the dinner helps UCAN and its community partners provide food to children, older adults, working families and others experiencing food insecurity.

Community members who cannot attend may still contribute through the event’s online donation option. Businesses and organizations can also support the dinner through sponsorships or in-kind donations of food, bowls, drinks, desserts, raffle prizes and auction items.

First Community Credit Union is the event’s title sponsor. The Roseburg Receiver and KMTR are media sponsors.

Tickets, raffle entries and donations are available at: https://ucancap.networkforgood.com/events/103617-empty-bowls-2026

More information about the dinner and sponsorship opportunities is available at: https://www.ucancap.org/empty-bowls-dinner/

Questions may be directed to CommunityEngagement@ucancap.org.

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