Art Department prepares for 2018 Marion County Empty Bowls fundraiser

For the fifth consecutive year handmade bowls created in the Fairmont State University ceramics studio will be donated to the United Way of Marion County where they will be used to serve food at a countywide “Empty Bowls” luncheon fundraiser.

Begun in 1991 by potters, the Empty Bowls initiative is an arts-based effort to reduce hunger. The grass roots project has now grown to over 1000 annual events worldwide with the objectives of: Raising money to feed the world's hungry people; increasing awareness of hunger and related issues through education, awareness, and action; and advocating for arts education by nurturing the creative process through the arts, enhancing the possibility of finding new solutions to old problems.

People come and have a simple soup and bread lunch and then they get to take one of the bowls home with them.

The 2018 Marion County Empty Bowls luncheon takes place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 11 at the Knights of Columbus in Fairmont. Tickets are available for $15 on the United Way website at uwmarion.org/emptybowls.html.

All of the money raised through ticket sales to the luncheon goes to the Connecting Link, the Salvation Army and the Soup Opera. 

Empty Bowls ProjectJeff GreenhamDepartment of ArtSchool of Fine Arts