Students use art to fight hunger through ‘Empty Bowls’ fundraiser
By Megan Matthews
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CLARKSVILLE, Indiana (WLKY) — Nearly 150 handmade bowls lined the walls at Our Lady Providence High School, not as decoration, but as a visual reminder of neighbors facing food insecurity.
The display was part of “Empty Bowls,” a student- and staff-led event that raises awareness about hunger while generating support for local food pantries. Attendees were invited to enjoy soup and rolls, then take home a handcrafted bowl meant to keep the cause top of mind long after the meal.
“It’s a reminder for us, for people that do have food every day, because we are so lucky, we should be grateful for what we have and what we are able to donate to the less fortunate,” Brennan Hall, a junior at the school, said.
Staff say the work behind the event spans the entire school year, with students involved in nearly every detail, from creating the bowls to designing event materials.
“All year long, the students are putting together the whole event,” Tina Cooper, the art teacher, said. “So from starting to make 150 bowls, they also do all the gift bags and design the T-shirts and all the signs, and then digital design also.”
Cooper said the bowls are intended to serve as a lasting symbol of those who go without.
Funds raised through the event will benefit the food pantries at Holy Family Church and St. Anthony’s Church.
“They both have their own food pantries. But it’s open to the public in the community, not just our diocese families,” Cooper said. “And so all the money raised, we divide it by two, and we give half to one and half to the other.”
Organizers hope the event continues to grow, making a difference, one empty bowl at a time.
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