A couple of weeks ago I came across an article that talked about a school doing a hunger fund raiser entitled Empty Bowls. I thought it was an isolated idea, and then saw another article this week about a similar thing, but a different school. I went to Google and typed in “Empty Bowls,” and, wah-lah! It’s a whole organization! In 1990 a high school art teacher had her students create and decorate ceramic bowls. The students then had a fundraiser—a meal of soup and bread where people purchased one of the ceramic bowls in which to eat the meal. The patrons were able to take the bowls home as reminders, and the money raised went to feed hungry people. The project grew from there.
The article I read this week took place in an elementary school. I share a room with one of my school’s art teachers, and she has done ceramic bowls with kids from kindergarten through sixth grade, so I know it’s something any age school child could participate in. What I like about this project is that it also encourages the arts—students make something beautiful that serves as a vessel for food, but also as a reminder. It’s nice to find a project that someone outside of a classroom teacher can organize and initiate.
And then imagine incorporating middle school and high school home ec students as makers of the soup and breads. Locally, at the high school level, teaming with culinary students from the Elkhart Area Career Center. Even the chili cook-offs that are done could affiliate themselves with the program and local schools. And from the looks of things all you’d need to know is available at Empty Bowls’ website.
Comment by macoffeegrounds — March 27, 2008 @ 3:07 pm