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.  The stated goal for the 2021 event was to raise $100,000; ultimately, owing to hard work and the generosity of sponsoring organizations, participating individuals and restaurants, the event raised $164,000. The goal for 2022 is even more aggressive: $200,000. 

Since its founding, Feed Lee’s Summit/Empty Bowls has raised more than $450,000 to combat food insecurity in the community. Beneficiaries of Feed Lee’s Summit include Coldwater, Lee’s Summit Social Services, Meals on Wheels, and One Good Meal. We are proud to help raise funds for the collective mission of feeding those in need. 

About Our Clubs: 

The Lee’s Summit Sunrise/Sunset Rotary Club was founded in 1999 and has raised well over half a million dollars for charities both at home and abroad. Current major fundraisers include Feed Lee’s Summit (formerly Empty Bowls) and Fly the Flag.  Sunrise/Sunset is one club with two meeting times to meet the needs and availability of its members: 7:30 am Fridays at the Firefighters Union Hall in downtown Lee’s Summit, and 5:30 pm Tuesdays at Smoke Brewing.  

The Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit was founded in 1961 and lives 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.