Oakton's Empty Bowls fundraiser collects more than $32,000 for food pantries

Oakton College's annual Empty Bowls sale raised more than $32,000 for local food pantries, the school announced.

Staged by the ceramics club, the fundraiser was held Dec. 2 at the Des Plaines campus. Participants could buy handcrafted soup bowls and other ceramic pieces.

All proceeds will benefit Des Plaines Self-Help Closet and Pantry, Interfaith Action of Evanston, Maine Township Food Pantry, New Trier Township Food Pantry, Niles Township Food Pantry and Northfield Township Food Pantry.

Empty Bowls has raised more than $428,000 since the first event in 2004, according to a news release.