about us

The History of Feed Lee’s Summit/Empty Bowls Originally founded as “Empty Bowls” by the Lee’s Summit Sunrise Rotary Club in 2007, in 2021, this event became a powerful collaborative effort sponsored jointly by the Sunrise/Sunset Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit. 

The objective of the collaboration – which was immediately fulfilled – was to broaden the reach of the event while continuing to build on the experience and foundation of the prior success of Empty Bowls. Owing to hard work and the generosity of sponsoring organizations, participating individuals, and restaurants, in 2024 the event raised over $136,000. The goal for 2025 is even more aggressive: $175,000. 

Since its founding, Feed Lee’s Summit/Empty Bowls has raised more than $870,000 to combat food insecurity in the community. Beneficiaries of Feed Lee’s Summit include Coldwater, Lee’s Summit Social Services, Meals on Wheels, One Good Meal, and Boost 4 Success. We are proud to help raise funds for the collective mission of feeding those in need. 

About Our Clubs:

The Lee’s Summit Sunrise Rotary Club was founded in 1999 and is strongly committed to the ideals of Rotary as depicted in our club vision statement:  To Be A Vibrant Service Club That Is Engaged In The Community At Home And Abroad.. Sunrise Rotary has raised well over a million dollars for charities at home and abroad. Current major fundraisers include Feed Lee’s Summit (formerly Empty Bowls) and Fly the Flag. Sunrise meets at 7:30 am Fridays at the Firefighters Union Hall in downtown Lee’s Summit.

The Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit was founded in 1961 and lives by its motto of “Service above self.” The club offers a wide variety of community service projects so that all members have the opportunity to participate. In addition to Feed Lee’s Summit, major events include an annual golf tournament to raise funds for scholarships to local community colleges and trade schools, and an October Glo (night) Golf event to raise funds for the ongoing fight to eradicate polio from the face of the earth. The Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit meets Thursdays at noon at Unity Village.