Empty Bowls of Albany is a joint outreach program that raises awareness about hunger. Local restaurants donate soups and other foods to the Empty Bowls luncheon event, and area artisans create unique bowls that go to each ticketholder. The bowls symbolize the empty bowls of citizens in the community who often go without meals.

Money raised from the event is used to help fund the SOWEGA Council on Aging’s Home Delivered Food program that provides home delivered meal for senior citizens in the region and programs sponsored by the Albany Area Arts Council that support or promote local artists.