We have come to the difficult decision to indefinitely postpone this year’s Empty Bowls event. Here’s our thinking:

Food For Free is committed to the health of our community. The last thing we want to do is risk the health of our many beloved supporters, even if we believe that risk of coronavirus transmission in Massachusetts is currently low.

We value the spirit of joy and community at our events. Empty Bowls is informal, playful, and fun. We want everyone who attends to have a fantastic time without a moment of worry about illness.

More than any other event, Empty Bowls is an all-ages event, and we really value this. We don’t want anyone to feel like they can’t bring their toddler, their grandmother, or their immuno-compromised partner.

There’s a lot we all don’t know. Everyone is making personal decisions right now about work, school, travel, and other activities. We recognize that Empty Bowls, while an important fundraiser for Food For Free and a much-anticipated community event is deeply optional—for attendees, volunteers, and for the generous soup donors. Given that, we believe that making the decision to postpone it now is in the best interest of everyone involved.

We look forward to seeing you at an event later this year.