Contributed by Meaghan Keegan
The 6th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser organized by the Hoosick Falls Central School art department was a huge success. Over 130 handmade ceramic bowls were sold for this event alongside some tasty homemade soups, with the mission to connect art with hunger awareness. All proceeds from the event were donated to the Hoosick Area Church Association (HACA) Food Pantry.
Co-organizer of the event, high school art teacher Desiree Collins, contributed the success of the event to a great team of individuals, groups and businesses, “I would like to thank our wonderful administration for their constant support, all of our patrons who donated for the cause, Rob Viera for always being the other half of this fundraiser, Martha and John for their many years playing wonderful music, Father Tom, Hoosac School, Ken Fleming, Brown’s Brewing Company and St. Mary’s for the donated soup, support and extra help for the event and the staff at the Hoosick Falls Armory who lent us their time and space.”
The event raised $1,335 which was given to HACA, an organization formed through a collaboration of the area’s Christian churches. Their Food Pantry supplies tens of thousands of meals each year, including hundreds of holiday food boxes. HACA also offers tax assistance and helps to organize other acts of kindness within the community, such as providing school supplies for local children.
“Every day someone goes hungry. Thanks to the schools and businesses that participated in Empty Bowls, the HACA Food Pantry is able to help alleviate some of this hunger,” said Joyce Brewer of HACA, “I am always impressed by the work of the students to make the bowls and volunteer their time to support such an important cause in our small community.”
The Empty Bowls Project began in a single high school in Detroit, MI, in 1990, as a school luncheon for a local food-drive. A non-profit organization, The Imagine Render Group, was later formed and today, school and community groups hold Empty Bowls events in cities across the United States and in countries around the world. These events have raised tens of millions of dollars for organizations fighting hunger.