Inaugural Empty Bowls Long Beach - 2026

Long Beach's first Empty Bowls event comes with stacked soup lineup to help feed families (Longbeachize, November 5, 2026, by Brian Addison).
Local artists make the bowls, local restaurants fill them, neighbours sit down to eat together, and that lunch helps put food on someone else's table.
On Saturday, Nov. 7, the inaugural Empty Bowls Long Beach takes over First Congregational Church Downtown, with a roster of chefs, more than 400 locally made ceramic bowls, and a cause.
Tickets are $35, including a soup lunch and a handcrafted bowl to take home. All proceeds benefit the Volunteer Center's Food For Kids program, which helps feed children and families across Long Beach and the South Bay.
Sara Pilchman of Sara Pilchman Ceramics, ceramic artist, is behind the event, bringing home the international grassroots hunger-relief movement. "Empty Bowls was an event I first participated in at Juniata College in 2009, and I have loved it ever since. After returning home to Long Beach in 2012 and getting involved in local ceramics studios, I dreamed of bringing the program to our vibrant, creative city." "An event combining food lovers, artists, and those passionate about our community seemed especially aligned for us."
With support from her business mastermind group through the Small Business Development Center and a subsequent partnership with the Volunteer Center South Bay/Harbor/Long Beach, the idea has a date and a home.
Lineup: Chef Michael Flores of Marlena – kale-and-lentil soup. Master baker and chef Kristin Colazas‑Rodriguez of Colossus Bakery – squash soup. Chef Matthew Roberts (formerly of Alder & Sage) and his True North Social Club – pozole verde. Pitmaster Dennis Robicheau of Shady Grove Foods – split pea. Chef Brennan Villareal Got Your Back – arroz caldo. Battabong BBQ – chicken curry (photo caption: chicken curry soup served by Battambong BBQ). Cafe Avenue Soup – minestrone. Homareya, Gene's Goods and Alder & Sage are also participating, contributions to be announced.
Guests will choose from more than 400 ceramic bowls made locally, to carry home. Jazz Angels, the nonprofit music organization, will provide the afternoon's soundtrack. "We'll share a meal together while being serenaded by the musical nonprofit organization Jazz Angels, and support a great cause. The bowl is yours to keep as a reminder of how we feed and are fed by our community."
Organizers say Food For Kids provides more than 9,000 meals weekly through partner schools and educational programs. The Volunteer Center also offers food assistance through its community pantries in Torrance and Long Beach.
Sara hopes this first lunch will become an annual tradition.
Empty Bowls Long Beach takes place on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, from 11AM to 2PM at First Congregational Church of Long Beach, 241 Cedar Ave. Tickets are $35 and include soup and a handcrafted ceramic bowl to keep. All proceeds benefit the Volunteer Center's Food For Kids program. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/empty-bowls-long-beach-tickets-1999225317743
Poster: Empty Bowls Long Beach – Nov 7, 2026, 11AM-2PM – First Congregational Church of Long Beach, 241 Cedar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802. Presented by Sara Pilchman Ceramics and Volunteer Center South Bay/Harbor/Long Beach. "Join us for the first Empty Bowls Long Beach! Your ticket gets you a beautiful ceramic bowl made by local Long Beach artists that you get to keep. Plus, enjoy delicious soup from local restaurants. All proceeds go to support the Food For Kids program at the Volunteer Center. Come help us build community and end hunger in our schools." Scan for Tickets – $35. Thank you to our event sponsors: Molina Healthcare; Port of Long Beach; County of Los Angeles Supervisor, Fourth District, Janice Hahn.

11 am to 2 pm. More than 400 locally made ceramic bowls. Music by Jazz Angels. Supported by the Small Business Development Center.

The first Empty Bowls Long Beach is on November 7, 2026, from 11AM to 2PM at First Congregational Church of Long Beach, 241 Cedar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802. A $35 ticket (bought by scanning the QR code) gets you a ceramic bowl made by local Long Beach artists to keep, plus soup from local restaurants. All proceeds support the Food For Kids program at the Volunteer Center, to help build community and end hunger in schools. Presented by Sara Pilchman Ceramics and the Volunteer Center South Bay/Harbor/Long Beach; event sponsors are Molina Healthcare, the Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles County Supervisor (Fourth District) Janice Hahn.