Empty Bowls is a national event hosted on a local scale, raising money for hunger relief in Palm Beach County. Attendees enjoy delicious soup from local establishments, while raising funds for the Palm Beach County Food Bank.

For the past 12 years, the Church of Bethesda has collaborated with the Palm Beach County Food Bank to raise critical funds for our neighbors in need through Empty Bowls Palm Beach. Thanks to the generosity of our community, by February 23rd, 2024, we raised one million dollars across 11 years of Empty Bowls Palm Beach!

The Port Ministry at Bethesda-by-the-Sea is part of the worldwide Mission to Seafarers Ministry of the Anglican Communion. The Port Ministry at Bethesda provides spiritual and material support for the mariners of every nation who call at the Port of Palm Beach. The people of Bethesda provide donations of clothing, knitted caps, treats of all kinds, as well as support for Christmas and Easter at sea. Donations are used to give the mariner of every ship which arrives in Palm Beach during the season of Christmas, a Christmas gift. This is an important ministry which welcomes the stranger in our midst and shares the love of Christ to the ends of the Earth.

Bethesda parishioners volunteer on the first and third Wednesday each month to prepare a dinner meal for 150-225 people at St. George’s in Riviera Beach. Food prep begins at 1:30 p.m. at St. George’s Center and takes about 3 – 3 ½ hours. Setup volunteers required to arrive between 4:30-5:00 p.m. We begin serving at 5:30 p.m. and complete serving at 6:30 p.m. Cleanup is from 6:30-7:00 p.m.

Sandwich prep Friday mornings in the Bethesda Kitchen for the St. George’s Community Center in Riviera Beach. Approximately 1.5 hours. This is an opportunity to help feed those in need in our community, while getting to know fellow parishioners.

The Palanca Food Pantry in Lake Worth has served the local, mostly Spanish-speaking community for many years. Bethesda volunteers assist with check in and distribute food items on Monday and Tuesday mornings starting at 7:00 a.m.