Difference Makers: Filling Hearts and Feeding Families

Nelson Mandela said, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived, but the difference we make in the lives of others.”

You have made that difference. From Empty Bowls on March 7 to AZ Gives Day on April 7, you kept giving, raising a combined total of over $244,000 to make an impact on thousands of lives. We invite you to keep reading to see the difference you made.

Empty Bowls 2026

This year’s Empty Bowls event was a tremendous success, made possible by the incredible support of our community.

With your help, $214,957 was raised to support ICS programs and services and strengthen the work we are doing together as a community.

We would like to extend a special thank you to our Event Sponsors. If you have the opportunity, please join us in thanking the generous individuals, businesses, and organizations who helped make this event possible.

We are deeply grateful to the Vendors who donated food and beverages, the talented Potters who handcrafted over 1,800 beautiful bowls, and the dedicated volunteers who gave their time and energy to bring this event to life.

And last but certainly not least, thank you to each and every one of you who attended and supported this year’s event.

Please take a moment to view a slideshow of photos from this year’s event.

We look forward to welcoming you back at next year’s Empty Bowls event on March 6, 2027!

You “Met” the Need

This year, our AZ Gives campaign was all about helping “Meat” the Need, and raising funds for our Food Banks to purchase protein for those who need it most.

Because of your generosity, we were able to raise over $25,000 in support of this statewide day of giving!

These funds will directly support families and individuals across our community who face food insecurity.

Thank you for making a difference in people’s lives!