GSW’s Empty Bowls Event on Nov. 8 to Combat Local Hunger

The Department of Visual Arts at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) is set to host its 12th annual Empty Bowls event on November 8, 2023, from 09:00 to 13:00. This initiative aims to alleviate hunger in the local community by selling hand-crafted ceramic bowls and soup. Proceeds from the event will support local families in need through the collaboration with Harvest of Hope and various local restaurants.

This year’s event will take place at the Harvest of Hope Food Pantry, located at 606 McGarrah St., Americus, GA. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase one of the 200 unique ceramic bowls available for $25 each. Each bowl represents considerable effort, requiring artisans to shape the clay, dry it, bisque fire, glaze, and finally fire it at temperatures reaching 2,350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Harvest of Hope, founded in 2013 under the leadership of Sonny and Ginger Pinckard and currently directed by Chris and Rhonda Slocumb, plays a critical role in addressing food insecurity in the region. Chris Slocumb, who is also an associate professor in the GSW School of Nursing, stated, “

Harvest of Hope provides 600+ boxes of food each month. This means 600+ households in need of food are reached through Harvest of Hope every month. This food is vital to the wellbeing of so many in our community and does so much to fight against food insecurity in our region.

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The event not only aims to raise funds but also offers a platform for students to showcase their artistic skills. Senior ceramics major, Lexi Glass, expressed her enthusiasm for participating in Empty Bowls, noting, “Being a part of Empty Bowls the last three years has been a wonderful experience in so many ways. Not only does it allow me to further develop my craftsmanship in ceramics, but it also gives me the opportunity to use these skills to give back and learn more about the great things the community does to care for one another while attending GSW.”

Local restaurants including Pat’s Place, Little Brothers Bistro and Cafe, and Sweet Georgia Bakery will support the event by providing soup to bowl purchasers. Each ceramic bowl comes with a soup voucher (while supplies last), allowing participants to enjoy a meal from these establishments.

Most of the proceeds from the Empty Bowls event will directly benefit Harvest of Hope, with the remainder allocated to support GSW visual art students. The bowls available this year have been crafted by talented GSW students including Noah Miller, Alexis Glass, Dulce Sarmiento, Marion Mims, Ben Dracup, Leah Ross, Shila Tucker, Anna Jones, Jayda Hughes, Ethan Sellers, along with faculty members Ralph Harvey and Keaton Wynn.

The Empty Bowls event at GSW continues to grow in significance, fostering community spirit while addressing critical issues of hunger and food insecurity. With the support of students, faculty, and local businesses, this event is set to not only provide nourishment for the body but also for the spirit of the community.