Empty Bowls Combines Food and Art

by Bethany Van Waes 12′

 

Teachers browse the bowls made from MCPS students. photo by Hannah Chertock '12

 

Thanksgiving is a time for being thankful for what we have. This year, the community can give back to those who cannot afford the food to have a Thanksgiving dinner, or many meals for that matter. On Thursday, November 17, the Art National Honors Society sponsored an Empty Bowls event. With every $10 donation, students, teachers, and members of the community came to the school cafeteria between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to receive a meal of chili and desserts. Members of the National Art Honors Society sold tickets and raised around 800 dollars.

The procedure of this night is quite simple. Upon arrival, each donator will choose a hand-made bowl. Although other bowls will be provided, participators can eat their chili out of their hand-made bowls. After a dinner of chili, Art Honors Society students provided dessert. The hand-made bowls were made by art students in not only Sherwood but Blaire, BCC and Rock Terrace.  After finishing the meal, bowls may be taken home as a reminder for what each donation goes towards.

The proceeds from Empty Bowls event will benefit local needy families. “It’s a benefit this year for Manna Food Center, which is a local organization that fights hunger in Montgomery County to collect and distribute food to needy individuals and families locally, which is what our proceeds are benefitting,” said Art teacher Michele Spangle, sponsor of the Art National Honor Society. She also explained that in addition to the meal, “there’s also an art show by Art National Honors Society students.”

Manna Food Center, a non-profit organization since 1983, has a mission to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County with the help of education, food distribution, and advocacy. This event will help those in the community that need it, for 94 cents of every dollar that this food bank receives goes to people in the community that need it the most.

“It’s close to Thanksgiving, so it’s a nice time to be thankful for what we have and also look at being able to help other folks as well,” said Spangle.