Charlotte Wiggers (left) and Olivia Espey (right) show off some of the bowls available at this year's Empty Bowl fundraiser, raising money for Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Food Bank. (Image Credit: Submitted photo)

By Alex Rawnsley

giving back

Empty Bowl fundraiser targeting Nanaimo food insecurity

Feb 5, 2026 | 1:51 PM

NANAIMO — A student-led initiative at a local high school is returning to raise thousands for the region’s food bank.

Student Council representatives, along with those enrolled in the pottery program at Nanaimo District Secondary School, will again host their annual Empty Bowl fundraiser on March 5 at 5:30 p.m., raising money for Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank and battling local food insecurity.

Charlotte Wiggers, grade 12 student and vice-president of the Student Council, told NanaimoNewsNOW those attending will enjoy a meal served in one of 125 handmade pottery bowls, before taking the bowl home.

“We have been setting up sessions to make bowls. We did one with our school, we’ve done some in community. We’ve been working with the pottery teacher to set up these sessions where people can make their own pottery bowls that are for the event.”

A selection of the 125 bowls created for the March event. (Image Credit: Submitted photo)

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Some local professional potters have also donated bowls for the event, according to Wiggers.

Tickets are $20 each and are available through the NDSS office during school hours.

The event has sold out in years past and aims to raise $5,000 for the community food bank.

Lisa Brockley, a French immersion teacher assisting the Council in planning the event, said different students take charge each year, but many assist in operating the fundraiser for multiple years.

“A lot of them have been involved in the past, so they have some knowledge. Just being there to guide them through the process and help them when needed, but I really like to see them own it at their own event, so it’s something that they can be really proud of moving forward in life.”

She added directly targeting food insecurity in their local school community is a main driver behind the fundraiser.

“We definitely have a number of families in our own school communities who are facing those food insecurities, so this is something that hopefully is helping them. We are also looking at it from a greater perspective for the larger Nanaimo community. There are so many people who have to access our food bank on a regular basis.

The Empty Bowl concept stems from an international effort, run for over 20 years by the Imagine/RENDER Group, who work to end world hunger and raise awareness about food insecurity in communities.

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