CHICO, Calif. – The 19th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser is aiming to fight hunger, one bowl at a time.

The fundraiser will be held on Thursday, March 5 at the Lincoln Center at Chico High School.

All proceeds benefit the Torres Community Shelter, a program of True North Housing Alliance.

There are two seating times offered, 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

Empty Bowls started as a small community event in Michigan and is now an international project. Their goal is to fight hunger, and the event is personalized by aspiring artists on a community level.

Empty Bowls in Chico started in 2001 with art students at Chico and Pleasant Valley High Schools who created and donated ceramic bowls to the event. Local restaurants and bakeries joined forces to donate the food.

For this year’s fundraiser, dinner guests choose a ceramic bowl made specifically for the event by students at Chico and Pleasant Valley High Schools, Marsh and Bidwell Junior High Schools, and Torres Shelter guests.

Also joining this year will be Williams High School, the group announced.

A meal of soup and bread is served at the event, to symbolize the meager meals of the homeless. Each seating features a wide variety of handmade bowls and delicious soups. There will also be a raffle at the event.

Golf carts will be available to transport the elderly and or mobility challenged guests from the Chico High parking lot off West Sacramento to Lincoln Hall. The group asks people to park under the solar panels and head to the northwest gate to catch a ride.

To purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.