“Empty Bowls” is an annual fund raising event held all over the world. Potters everywhere gather to create hundreds of one of a kind ceramic bowls that are given to persons willing to make a modest contribution to a local charity serving food to the hungry.
Locally, this event is sponsored by the Fredonia Potters Co-op a loosely organized assembly of the area’s amateur and professional potters. Many of these individuals work together at Mudslingers, the pottery studio owned and operated by Ron Nasca in downtown Fredonia. Others in the group work in their own studios. Once again this year, the SUNY Fredonia ceramics faculty will be cooperating in the effort. Over the years the fund drive has met with growing success.
The 2010 Empty Bowls event is scheduled for Saturday, December 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 733 Central Avenue, Dunkirk.
As is traditional in most Empty Bowls Fundraisers, folks make their tax-deductible contribution, choose a bowl they like and are served a simple meal of soup in it. Subsequently the bowl is washed and wrapped for them to take home. This year the bowls come in sizes designed to acknowledge contributions of $10, $20, and $30.
While numerous individuals have created the hundreds of beautiful, one of a kind bowls, none are signed by the maker. Instead, they are imprinted with the “Empty Bowls” logo thus continuing to remind the user that there are hungry persons in the world.
Pat and Sylvia Bailey of “For Your Pleasure” Caterers of Dunkirk will be preparing several special soups out of ingredients donated by area gardeners and merchants. At least one of the soups will be vegetarian. During the event, live entertainment will be organized by popular area musician Tom Gestwicki.
What is unique about this exciting and worthwhile effort is that absolutely all of the talent, time and materials used are donated and one hundred percent of the proceeds go to feed the hungry locally. This “keep it local” policy is the only stipulation made by the now international organization “Empty Bowls”. The organization was formed in 1990 by John Hartom and his wife Lisa Blackburn when they were teaching at Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School in Michigan. They continue as volunteers to maintain a web site documenting the many “Empty Bowls” fundraisers around the country.
Be sure to mark your calendar for December 4, and join your friends for lunch while supporting a very worthy cause.
Questions regarding EMPTY BOWLS fundraiser may be directed to Marvin Bjurlin, coordinator of the effort. Call 672-9151 or email bjurlin@mac.com
