Empty Bowls Santa Barbara benefits the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, making an immediate difference in our community, through the art of pottery and the power of people learning to feed each other. In 1998 I heard about a program called Empty Bowls from one of my ceramics students, the combination of being a ceramics teacher and a former restaurant owner had me embrace this adventure. We are going into our 22nd annual event, and have donated well over 8 million dollars of food for those in need around our Santa Barbara community.