Potters Guild Hosted 34th Annual Empty Bowls Event
The Las Cruces community gathered at St. Paul's United Methodist Church to raise funds for local food security efforts.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Potters' Guild of Las Cruces hosted its 34th annual Empty Bowls event to benefit the El Caldito Soup Kitchen. Attendees purchased tickets to receive donated bowls and soup to support the kitchen's ongoing operations.
Why it matters
Proceeds from this long-running fundraiser provide critical support for El Caldito Soup Kitchen. The organization relies on such events to maintain services for residents who are food insecure or experiencing homelessness.
Organizers prepared 2,000 bowls for this 34th annual iteration of the fundraiser. This represents an increase in potential capacity compared to the 1,200 attendees recorded at last year's event.
The players
The Potters' Guild of Las Cruces
This is a local organization of ceramic artists that facilitates the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser.
El Caldito Soup Kitchen
This facility provides essential meals to homeless and food-insecure individuals in the Las Cruces area.
The details
The event featured a collaborative effort between local potters, who provided the bowls, and regional restaurants that donated the soup. Proceeds from ticket sales, silent auctions, and various sponsors are dedicated to covering the operational costs of the El Caldito Soup Kitchen.
Timeline
The 34th annual Empty Bowls event occurred on October 9, 2026.
Market Landscape
This fundraiser follows the community-based model established by the Empty Bowls project to fight hunger. By mobilizing local artisans and small businesses, the event reflects a broader trend of hyper-local charitable engagement in mid-sized cities.
The event provides a direct avenue for residents to support the daily operational needs of the local soup kitchen through ticket purchases. This participation helps maintain meal services for food-insecure community members throughout the coming year.
The takeaway
Events like these demonstrate how local artisan communities can directly impact regional social services. Residents interested in future support can monitor the guild's schedule for upcoming opportunities to contribute.
Further reading
Learn more about local charitable initiatives in the Las Cruces Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Las Cruces Sun-News.
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