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EDINBURG — Lines of people had already formed outside the Bert Ogden Arena Tuesday morning at a quarter before 11 a.m.

When the doors finally opened, the people were ushered through security before being led along the concourse toward a set of tables with hundreds of multi-colored, hand-painted ceramic bowls.

The empty bowls were a representation of the growing need for food assistance throughout the Rio Grande Valley, and the Food Bank RGV’s ceaseless efforts to ensure that no home is unable to fill their own bowls with food.

Tuesday’s event was one of those efforts made by the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley to raise funds to continue servicing needy families throughout Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties.

The 19th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser brought community members out to support the Food Bank RGV while trying food from dozens of local restaurants.

“This one in particular hits home,” Chef Larry Delgado, who owns the McAllen restaurants, house. wine. & bistro. and SALT – New American Table.

At a table near the entrance to the arena’s ground floor, Delgado prepared sample-sized servings of his take on chicken satay served over brown rice — substituting the peanut butter ingredient commonly used in the popular Thai dish for the more allergy-friendly sunflower seed butter.

The dish was paired with an oatmeal whoopie pie, oatmeal cookies with a sweet cream stuff in between, for dessert.

Delgado said that he has supported the Food Bank since 2008. He commended the food bank’s fight against hunger and touted the importance of the Empty Bowls fundraisers.

“The idea that there are kids out in our community that currently have — quote, unquote — ‘empty bowls’ and don’t have access to the simplest of things like food, things that we take for granted like three meals a day, It really just drives us to be here and to be a part of this so that we can try to at least be a part of a solution in this community and make an impact,” Delgado said. “That’s why we’re here.”

Just a few steps away from Delgado’s table stood Libby Saenz, CEO of the Food Bank RGV. She greeted attendees and posed for photos as the arena floor quickly filled with guests making their way along the more than 30 booths lining the perimeter.

“We have so many food insecure people that don’t know where the next meal is coming from,” Saenz said. “This is our largest fundraiser that we have. This helps us put food on tables of those people that need it.”

Saenz said that the annual fundraiser accounts for roughly 5% of the food bank’s yearly budget. Last year’s event raised approximately $150,000 for the food bank. This year’s event is projected to raise over $180,000.

While trying to provide food for a large population of the Rio Grande Valley is a daunting task in and of itself, this year has proven more challenging with funding freezes to federal programs that are essential to food banks throughout the country.

In other words, the Empty Bowls fundraiser is playing a much bigger role in ensuring that the Food Bank RGV does not have empty shelves.

Saenz said that her food bank has managed to stay above water despite the challenges this year has bestowed, but she said that there could be more difficulties ahead if aid continues to dwindle.

With the ongoing government shutdown, and the Farm Bill that expired on Sept. 30, she anticipates seeing many new faces seeking assistance from her food bank in the near future.

“It’s hard,” Saenz said. “Hopefully, this fundraiser will bring in some money, but we still can’t do it just with this fundraiser. We need everyone’s support. We need community support, not only with the food, but money and volunteering. We need all that support. We can’t do it by ourselves.”

Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza said that the Empty Bowls fundraiser is a great opportunity for local restaurants to gain some exposure while giving back to the food bank, but he said that he is also concerned about the overwhelming need throughout the community and the food bank’s growing pressure to meet those needs.

“That’s what makes this event that much more important this year,” Garza said. “There’s cuts and reductions everywhere. The reality is that we do have a lot of people in need, and the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley is one of the only entities that’s there to help those in need.”

One of those local businesses that also participated in the event was Nothing Bundt Cakes, a bakery with locations in Brownsville, Harlingen, Weslaco, and two locations in McAllen.

Kayla De Leon, a regional manager for the custom bakery, handed small samples of their most popular cakes, including red velvet, lemon, white chocolate raspberry and chocolate chocolate-chip — each cut into small squares and served with a dollop of cream cheese frosting.

She described the event as a win-win opportunity for her bakery as it gains exposure while helping to give back to an important organization. She said that this is the fifth time that her bakery has participated in the Empty Bowls fundraiser.

“It’s been a lot of fun, getting to meet a lot of people, networking and just giving back to the community,” De Leon said. “Every year that we come, it’s always organized very well. I think, especially with today’s events going on in the world, kindness goes a long way. We really are happy that our cakes are able to bring joy to everyone in our community.”

Anyone in need of food assistance is encouraged to the Food Bank RGV at (956) 682-8101, and follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for updates and information about upcoming food distributions and fundraisers.

For more information about volunteering or to make a monetary donation, visit the food banks website at foodbankrgv.com.

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To see more, view staff photographer Joel Martinez’s full photo gallery here:

Photo Gallery: Food Bank RGV hosts 19th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser

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