Good Samaritan Ministries Hosts 17th Annual Empty Bowls Project

Brownwood community comes together to raise funds for local hunger programs

Apr. 10, 2026 at 8:30am

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a table setting with ceramic bowls, spoons, and a loaf of bread, all bathed in warm, diffused light, conceptually representing the comfort and community of the Empty Bowls event.The Empty Bowls Project brings Brownwood residents together to support local hunger relief efforts through the simple act of sharing a meal.Brownwood Today

Good Samaritan Ministries hosted its 17th annual Empty Bowls Project at the Brownwood Coliseum, where community members purchased $15 tickets to enjoy simple meals of soup, bread, and dessert. The event raised funds for the organization's seven hunger ministries, with 90% of proceeds going to local programs and 10% donated to the international relief organization Food for the Hungry.

Why it matters

The Empty Bowls Project is a longstanding community event that brings Brownwood residents together to support Good Samaritan Ministries' efforts to address hunger and food insecurity in the local area. The funds raised help sustain the organization's various hunger relief initiatives, which provide essential resources and services to those in need.

The details

This year's Empty Bowls event featured a theme of "Possibilities," encouraging attendees to consider how an empty bowl can represent not just a lack, but an opportunity to be filled with nourishment, community, and hope. The event was made possible through the support of sponsors like Kohler, who glazed the ceramic bowls, as well as the tireless efforts of volunteers and board members.

  • The 17th annual Empty Bowls Project was held on Thursday, April 10, 2026.
  • Good Samaritan Ministries has hosted the Empty Bowls event for the past 17 years.

The players

Good Samaritan Ministries

A local non-profit organization that operates seven hunger ministries in the Brownwood area, including a food pantry, meal programs, and mobile food distribution.

Leesa Stephens

The director of Good Samaritan Ministries, who oversees the organization's various hunger relief initiatives and the annual Empty Bowls event.

Kohler

A sponsor of the Empty Bowls Project, responsible for glazing the ceramic bowls used during the event.

Food for the Hungry

An international relief organization that received 10% of the funds raised during the Empty Bowls Project.

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What they’re saying

“Our theme this year was 'Possibilities' — not that a lot of people care if Empty Bowls has a theme or not — but we spend so much time talking about empty bowls that we kind of did a play on that this year. We said an empty bowl is not necessarily a bad thing. It represents a possibility. It needs to be filled. How do you fill it? Do you fill it with soup? Do you fill it with other things? We began to think about how you fill a community event with faith, and with hope, and with love and with community spirit. So that was the idea this year behind the theme 'Possibilities.'”

— Leesa Stephens, Director, Good Samaritan Ministries

“Our goal was $70,000, and we had reached over 75 percent of that before (Thursday). I think we probably made our goal.”

— Leesa Stephens, Director, Good Samaritan Ministries

What’s next

Good Samaritan Ministries will continue operating its seven hunger ministries throughout the year, using the funds raised from the Empty Bowls Project to support their ongoing efforts to address food insecurity in the Brownwood community.

The takeaway

The Empty Bowls Project demonstrates the power of community collaboration and generosity, as Brownwood residents come together annually to support Good Samaritan Ministries' vital hunger relief programs. This event not only raises critical funds, but also fosters a spirit of hope and possibility in addressing the complex issue of food insecurity.