Van Buren students fight hunger with ‘Empty Bowls’

The 3rd annual Van Buren High School Empty Bowls event is a cooperative effort between students, teachers, and community members and organizations.

The event was held Thursday (Feb. 16) in the Van Buren High School Commons Area to help raise awareness of students who are supported by the “Meals For Kids” through the Community Services Clearinghouse.

In 2010, the program provided food for 2,500 students in a seven county area in the River Valley. Over 250 of those students were in the Van Buren School District. “Meals for Kids” fills backpacks with food for students in need to take home over the weekend. These students would otherwise may not receive adequate nutrition until they return to school on Monday mornings.

The high school students built and glazed the clay bowls by hand. Students in FCCLA collected cans of vegetables at a VBHS food drive for the soup to be served on the night of the event. Other ingredients for the dinner were donated by local businesses. Fresh baked bread, which was something added this year, was provided by Grapevine Restaurant in Paris, Ark.

For $15, patrons not only helped a worthwhile cause, but were treated to a hot meal and took home a piece of handmade pottery, which some patrons collect through the years. All proceeds go directly to the Community Services Clearinghouse's “Meals For Kids” program.

Emily Sullivan, a second year art student, made a bowl in class, but the one she purchased was picked at random. She said that knowing people were going to buy a bowl to support kids who would get food that wouldn't otherwise meant a lot to her. Emily and her parents each purchased a bowl.

Bambi Clifton, a patron, was glad she came to the event. She was totally surprised when she realized she would receive a ceramic bowl, a piece of art, to take home.

The student work was voluntarily. The students thought it was cool to be helping students at their school and most didn't realize hunger was a problem with students at their school.

“The Empty Bowls is usually held around Valentine's Day because not much is going on, it's soup weather, and there is usually a ballgame that night also which draws in more people,” said Kara Holland, fine arts teacher.