Lambton College’s Empty Bowls fundraiser had its best year to date in 2023, raising $14,000 for local food banks, an organizer says.
Lambton College’s Empty Bowls fundraiser had its best year to date in 2023, raising $14,000 for local food banks, an organizer says.
Advertisement 2
Article content
Hopes are to get closer to that mark again this year, said Beth Turnbull Moorish, a college pottery instructor.
Article content
“What’s cool about this event is everyone gives a little bit from their own wheelhouse, from what they’re really good at,” she said of the fundraiser featuring a meal of bread and soup in handmade pottery bowls.
Soup is made by college students and local restaurants, and attendees get to keep the bowls, made by college instructors, more experienced students and Sarnia Lambton Potters’ Guild members, she said.
Virtually everything is donated, so almost all of the $40 ticket price goes to the cause, Turnbull Moorish said.
“It can help out significantly when we work together,” she said.
Started in 2007 in Sarnia and based on an idea originating at a Michigan school in the 1980s, to recognize hunger globally and help alleviate it locally, Empty Bowls was paused amid the COVID-19 pandemic and returned in 2023, she said.
Advertisement 3
Article content
Ticket prices were increased for the first time last year, from $25, Turnbull Moorish said, noting past years tended to raise about $11,000.
A returning feature is novice bowls, crafted by local officials, like college administrators, fire personnel, or people with the Inn of the Good Shepherd — one of the agencies benefiting from the fundraiser.
About a dozen gathered at the college’s ceramics studio Tuesday for the annual Celebrity Bowl-a-Thon. Their creations will be available in exchange for donations at the April 11 event, Turnbull Moorish said.
Potters’ guild members were among those helping the amateurs, who generally made one or two bowls, on Tuesday.
“Once you practice, you get a little bit faster,” said Turnbull Moorish, who made a demonstration bowl Tuesday and said she made about 16 in 90 minutes last week.
Advertisement 4
Article content
The largest donation to date is $80, for a bowl crafted by college president Rob Kardas, she said.
The event also highlights the power of art to make change, she said.
“When times are tough, it’s easy just to not do anything, or cut and get rid of things that might be superfluous,” she said, adding, “There’s real evidence and research that shows art can affect social change, so why not make some bowls and make everyone’s life a little more beautiful?”
Proceeds are split between the Inn of the Good Shepherd and the college-based Lion’s Heart student food bank.
About 2,200 people a month use the Inn of the Good Shepherd food bank alone, up about 20 per cent from a year ago, said executive director Myles Vanni.
Rising grocery prices have put a lot of pressure on families, he said.
Proceeds from Empty Bowls go to help stock the food banks, he said, noting it’s a popular event.
“We had people a month or two calling up and saying ‘When are the tickets (going to be available),’ ” he said.
They went on sale Tuesday via theinnsarnia.cahe said.
Seatings are 5 pm and 7 pm April 11. Each has 150 spaces available, Turnbull Moorish said.
Article content