This November, New Adventures in Learning (NAIL) members and friends are invited to take part in a very special celebration: a Week of Love & Gratitude, running from Monday, Nov. 10, through Thursday, Nov. 13. The week will be filled with opportunities for members to honor veterans, discover global traditions of thankfulness, create meaningful keepsakes, and reflect on the many blessings of community.
The celebration reaches its peak on Thursday, Nov. 13, with the arrival of a truly inspiring event: the Empty Bowls Project at Sun Lakes, which is open to the public. For the first time, Chandler-Gilbert Community College will bring this internationally recognized charitable effort to the NAIL location at the Sun Lakes Center located at 25105 S. Alma School Road, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248.
Empty Bowls is a worldwide movement that has raised millions of dollars to help fight hunger and food insecurity. Its simple but powerful concept has touched communities across the globe: Artists and students craft bowls by hand, participants purchase them, and proceeds are donated to local organizations dedicated to hunger relief.
At Sun Lakes, beautiful, handmade bowls, created by CGCC students and faculty, will be available for $15 each. Every dollar raised will directly support AZCEND, a local nonprofit committed to addressing food insecurity and providing critical resources for families in need.
“When you purchase a bowl, you’re not just buying art—you’re making a real difference,” said an event organizer. “The Empty Bowls motto is simple: ‘When you purchase a bowl, you help fill another.’ That message resonates deeply, especially in a season of gratitude.”
Beyond the bowls themselves, participants will take home something far more lasting: the knowledge that their generosity is helping put food on the table for neighbors in need. Each ceramic piece serves as both a practical item and a daily reminder of the impact of community compassion.
The Week of Love & Gratitude offers a meaningful lead-up to this culminating moment. Events throughout the week invite residents to celebrate kindness, connection, and creativity. From honoring veterans with heartfelt tributes, to exploring how different cultures around the world express gratitude, to hands-on workshops like Card Making with Gratitude and Journaling with Joy: A Journey into Gratitude and Thoughtfulness, the week is designed to inspire reflection and foster a spirit of giving.
Together, these experiences weave a rich tapestry of community values. They remind us that gratitude is more than a feeling—it is an action, a way of showing care for others through small, intentional gestures. Whether writing a card to brighten someone’s day or supporting Empty Bowls to feed families in need, participants in this weeklong celebration will help spread warmth well beyond Sun Lakes.
Members and visitors are encouraged to mark their calendars for Nov. 10–13 and be part of this unforgettable week. Whether you come for one class or the Empty Bowls finale, you will find yourself surrounded by community spirit, generosity, and joy.
Celebrate. Reflect. Give Back. This November, New Adventures welcomes you to a week that will warm hearts, lift spirits, and strengthen community ties in ways that will be remembered long after the bowls are filled.