Dining to end hunger is no joke for Interfaith Hospitality Network

An empty bowl is a reminder that not all of us have something to fill it with.

For the Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network (NPIHN), its mission is to fill those empty bowls and fight the hunger epidemic.

This event, the Empty Bowl Dinner, draws awareness to hunger and homelessness that affects many families in our area. Two dinner’s will be held this year to gather together families that were once housed by the group. The families will share this meal with the volunteers and community supporters who helped them along the way.

Artisan donors have hand-crafted bowls for the event, which will be given out as a reminder to everyone in the community that not everyone has a bowl filled with warm soup to eat. Local restaurants also play a part in preparing a variety of soups and baked bread. 

The group aims to provide a nurturing environment to help each family break out of the cycle of poverty and homelessness all throughout the year. The fundraising dinners are scheduled for Monday, Nov 14 at Arcadia University and Thursday, Nov 17 at Chestnut Hill College, where WHYY radio personality Mike McGrath will be the host.

“If more of us welcomed families that are in need into our local congregations, we can truly make a difference,” said Rachel Falkove, executive director at NPIHN, “community outreach and faith go hand in hand.”

For more information about NPIHN, visit www.philashelter.org/