Friday, September 5, 2025–8:00 p.m.
-News Release-
The Georgia’s Rome Welcome Center & Gift Shop is proud to announce that tickets are now available for the 22nd Annual Empty Bowls, a beloved community tradition. This year’s event will be held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Rome Civic Center.
Guests will enjoy a warm, delicious meal featuring a variety of soups, salad, bread, and cookies—generously donated by local restaurants. Each meal also includes a handcrafted bowl made by a regional potter, a meaningful keepsake symbolizing the cause. Attendees may choose to dine in or pick up meals via the convenient drive-thru option.
Proceeds Benefit YMCA of Rome & Floyd County BOOST Program
All proceeds from this year’s Empty Bowls event will benefit the YMCA BOOST Program—a grant-funded initiative supported by the federal American Rescue Plan Act. BOOST provides critical funding to state and local agencies, school districts, and community organizations to expand and enhance after-school and summer enrichment programs for K–12 youth. Focused on whole-child support, academic recovery, and equitable access, the program plays a vital role in student success but is currently not funded at full capacity.
Canned Food Drive & Door Prize Drawing
In addition to supporting the BOOST Program, attendees are encouraged to bring canned food donations for the Community Kitchen. For each can donated, participants will receive a ticket for a chance to win a door prize during the event.
Ticket Information
Tickets are $25 (cash or check only, in advance) and may be purchased at the Georgia’s Rome Welcome Center & Gift Shop, located next to the Civic Center at 402 Civic Center Drive (across from Applebee’s).
Please note: Ticket quantities are limited, and the Welcome Center cannot hold tickets.
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
About Empty Bowls of Rome
Empty Bowls of Rome was founded in 2003 by the late Tesa DuPre, a beloved community member whose legacy lives on through this event. Tesa once said her proudest achievement was bringing Empty Bowls to Rome, helping to build a stronger, more compassionate community through art, generosity, and shared purpose.
For more details or inquiries about the event, please call 706-295-5576.
