In 1990, an art teacher in Michigan wanted to teach his students to give back to the community. The students made pottery bowls and sold tickets to the other teachers for a simple soup lunch. The teachers kept the bowls as a reminder of the needy in the community. Thus began the grassroots movement, Empty Bowls, which is now an international movement to raise both money and awareness in the fight to end hunger. Today, millions of dollars are raised worldwide. Each event is personalized by artists and art organizations on a community level. The only requirement for hosting such an event is that the money raised is given to an organization to feed the hungry, that a simple meal of soup and bread is served, and that the event is open to all.

Realizing the need for funds at the Natchez Stewpot, local potters hosted the first Empty Bowls event in our community in 2004. Since then, over $60,000 has been raised and donated to the Stewpot. The seventh Natchez Empty Bowls event will be held on from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 14 at Natchez Pottery, 101 Clifton Ave. In keeping with the Natchez Tricentennial theme, the goal is to have 300 bowls from which to choose and to sell 300 tickets. Bowls have been made by Natchez potters, students and youth group members. This year, in addition to the handmade pottery bowls, bisque bowls have been hand painted by younger students who are learning new ways to use their time and talent to serve others.

Three hundred meals a day are served from the Natchez Stewpot. Two hundred of these meals are delivered to the elderly, the sick, and the handicapped. The building that has housed the Stewpot since the mid-1980s is in need of maintenance and repair. Funds raised by the Empty Bowls event will help with the most urgent of these projects as well as helping to cover other operational expenses. Thanks to all who give very generously of their time and talent to this worthy cause.

Tickets are $25 and are available at Natchez Coffee, 509 Franklin St. Participants will select a bowl and enjoy a simple meal of gumbo and cornbread. For those not wanting to stay and eat, takeout containers will be available. The bowl will be yours to keep as a reminder of the empty bowls in our community and the world.

 

Donna Jones is the this year’s chairman of Natchez Empty Bowl.