RSS

Students plan "Empty Bowl" benefit

March 6, 2009

The 2009 Empty Bowl Dinner, sponsored by the Northland College Ceramics Program and organized by the Moonbeam Consortium and Art League, will be hosted at St. Andrews Episcopal Church on Saturday, March 14 beginning at 4 p.m. This year, admission will be $15 or $10 with a non-perishable food item. The cost covers bread and a hearty soup served in a unique, hand-made bowl that can be taken home at the end of the evening. All the bowls at the event will have 100% lead-free glazes and will be safe to use in dishwashers and microwaves. Funds and food raised by the event will go to local food pantries.

Over the past several years Northland's Empty Bowl events have raised a combined total of over $10,000 for the hungry both locally and globally. In previous years the fee was simply $10, but organizers are hoping that the patron’s generosity will match their own ambitions to raise more than $3,000 in addition to the non-perishables for charity.

“This is exemplary of the spirit of volunteerism and social conviction that the Northland students feel towards the Ashland community,” says Associate Professor of Art Viken Peltekian. “I’d particularly like to thank the students who have made and donated the bowls, the Daily Bread for their generosity and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for being such a gracious host for this worthwhile event.”

Following the success of the 2008 dinner, this year’s event will again feature a silent auction of ceramic pieces such as serving bowls and vases as well as works of art in other media, the proceeds of which will go to the same charities. Northland students will also perform live bluegrass and marimba music and a speaker will talk about the local hungry and effective ways to help them.

“Empty Bowl is a great event because it is organized by Northland College students, but encompasses the community,” says Sarah Bhimani, a writing major at Northland who is focused on soup production for the event. “We rely on local business generosity in order to buy ingredients; student time in making bowls, soup, and bread; local artist skills for the silent auction; and local musicians for entertainment. The event becomes much more about the people and community that we are helping, which is the whole point.”