Documentary: CAFB Volunteers share the impact of their experience.

Beyond providing the community with the opportunity for the physical act of “community service”,  our greatest role is that of inspirer.  If after an afternoon volunteering in Product Recovery sorting cans, or volunteering at one of our signature events, you find yourself talking or thinking about the causes and possible solution to the hunger crisis, then we’re on the right track.

Ryan Jackson, photojournalism major at the University of Texas at Austin, recently produced this documentary on CAFB’s volunteer program.

Did your volunteer experience spark a larger hunger discussion? Tell us about it.

Thank you for supporting CAFB at Whole Foods 5% Day

by Rebecca Scofield, Austin Community Relations Coordinator for Whole Foods Market

I’m thrilled to report that our 5% Day raised more than $16,000 for the Austin Empty Bowl Project and the Capital Area Food Bank!  Despite the chilly, drizzly weather we had a strong turnout of guests, media coverage, and fantastic live music throughout the day. Thanks to CAFB staff, Tasty Bite, Tom’s Tabooley and Cafe Josie, who helped us share CAFB’s mission, and help with the bowl throwing and painting, and support our Community Giving Day. We’re so appreciative to everyone who volunteered their time and talents for this day including the amazing potters who threw 250 lbs of clay and all the musical performers that kept our spirits high throughout the day. Some photo highlights:

Bowl Painting, and drawings for Preview Party tickets and a gorgeous quilt by Nancy Elder.

Food bloggers Kristi Willis of Austin Farm to Table and Jodi Bart of Tasty Touring painting bowls .

Stan Irvin, Professor of Art at St. Ed’s, and a wonderful ceramic artist, spent his day with us.

Stan was a patient teacher to FOX 7’s Joe Bickett, who tried his hand on the wheel.

We invited our vendors who also support the Austin Empty Bowl Project to join us for demos during the day – here’s Tom and Bridgette of Tom’s Tabooley and Chef Charles of Café Josie .

Thanks also goes to Tasty Bites who joined us for some tasty samples.

Fantastic live music ALL DAY!   The weather brought it inside, but our guests loved it. Uncle Lucious and Warren Hood here…

Here are the painted bowls These colors will be bright and shiny when fired.  Our guests and team members painted lots of bowls to be donated to the main event on November 21^st.

Hester and Kris with yours truly – the unstoppable forces behind AEBP  Can you believe we were still THIS happy at the end of the loooong day!? !

And the cutest little chef!

Thank you all so much for your time and effort in helping us support AEBP and CAFB . We’ll see you at the big event on November 21^{st .}

Wednesday, Nov 3, is Whole Foods Market Community Giving Day

Shop and eat at either Austin-area Whole Foods Market store (Lamar or Gateway) on Wednesday, November 3, when 5% of sales will benefit the Austin Empty Bowl Project – an event benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank’s Kids Cafe program.

You can nourish hungry central Texas children while taking care of your own shopping list and grabbing a bite to eat!

We’ll have information on the Austin Empty Bowl Project (Sunday, November 21), bowls for you to decorate for the event, potters throwing bowls on the wheel, photo opportunities, live music and a free drawing for two Preview Party tickets ($150.00 value). You’ll also see this year’s fabulous quilt by Nancy Elder, as well as sample foods from some of our sponsors.

Bowl decorating at the Lamar store is from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and at Gateway from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. ($5 per bowl.)

Tickets for the quilt drawing are $1 each.

Enter for a chance to win the 2 Preview Party tickets – it’s free to enter! Winners will be announced Nov. 4.

Live Performances at Whole Foods Market – Lamar

7 – 8 a.m.         Woode Wood

10 – 11 a.m.     Idgy Vaughn

11 – noon         Effinghammer

noon – 1 p.m.   Michael O’Connor

1 – 2 p.m.         MilkDrive

2 – 3 p.m.         Warren Hood and the Goods

3 – 4 p.m.         Uncle Lucius

4 – 5 p.m.         Havilah Rand

5 – 7 p.m.         In the Pocket

7 – 8 p.m.         Distant Cousins