- March 16, 2026
Grant Administrator Donna Dooley, President and CEO Roy F. Young II, Marketing Manager Nicole Campon and volunteer and silent auction coordinator Betsy Rider of Halifax Urban Ministries during the Empty Bowls 2026 event. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Halifax Urban Ministries guests received a gift bag including soup bowls for the event. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Halifax Urban Ministries Chaplain Trace Rudolph leads the event in a prayer. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Halifax Urban Ministries Board Chair Clint Bagwell and President and CEO Roy F. Young II. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Volunteers serve guests soup during the Empty Bowls 2026 fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Local high school students created ceramic bowls for each guest attending Empty Bowls 2026. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Bree Johnson, Seabreeze High School junior and National Honor Society member, volunteered for the event. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Guest queue up for the soup served during Halifax Urban Ministries Empty Bowl 2026 fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Women at the Faith Sponsor table enjoy soup during the Halifax Urban Ministries Empty Bowl 2026 fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Friends from Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach enjoy soup during the Halifax Urban Ministries Empty Bowl 2026 fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Silent auction items raised funds for Halifax Urban Ministries. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Kale Cafe owner Camille Holder-Brown and Bethune-Cookman University student Jala’ Delancy serve soup during Urban Ministries Empty Bowl 2026 fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Halifax Urban Ministries Board Chair Clint Bagwell addresses attendees of Empty Bowl 2026. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Halifax Urban Ministries President and CEO Roy F. Young II addresses guests during Empty Bowl 2026. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Halifax Urban Ministries President and CEO Roy F. Young II addresses guests during Empty Bowl 2026. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Bryce Hammond, Volusia County Schools Visual Arts Specialist, in front of gift bowls crafted by local high school students. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Seabreeze High School Arts teacher Christine Colby; Bryce Hammond, Volusia County Schools Visual Arts specialist; and Spruce Creek High School Ceramics teacher Heather Alexander organized students who created over 400 bowls for the Empty Bowl 2026 fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Halifax Urban Ministries held its annual Empty Bowls fundraiser March 14 at the Ocean Center, raising awareness of food insecurity and supporting the organization’s meal programs.
Attendees were served soup by volunteers after receiving small bowls to carry to serving stations, symbolizing the experience of those who rely on soup kitchens and food assistance programs.
“We are serving hope to the community,” Halifax Urban Ministries Board Chair Clint Bagwell said.
Halifax Urban Ministries has served the Daytona Beach area for 45 years and provided more than 130,000 hot meals last year through programs that include Barracks of Hope, which provides housing and support services for veterans in the community.
Local high school students created more than 400 ceramic bowls for the event, and guests selected one to take home as a reminder of the cause.
Soups for the event were donated by Bliss Beach, Steve’s Diner, Giuseppe’s, Kale Café, DogHouse, Riptides, Ocean Deck, Rossellini’s, Caribbean Jack’s, Fraze’s Scratch Cookin’, Riviera Country Club, Wawa, Miller’s Ale House and Monkey Morning.
Kale Cafe owner Camille Holder-Brown donated soup and volunteered at the event.
“This is my community,” Holder-Brown said. “Everyone has a story when struggling with food insecurity.”
Proceeds from the event support Halifax Urban Ministries’ programs providing meals and assistance to individuals and families in need.
