Bowls have been made, soup has been ordered and tickets are on sale for the first Empty Bowls fundraiser at Eisenhower High School on Dec. 11.
The project was instigated at the suggestion of ceramics student T’Jay Bone, who became concerned about those in the Lawton Fort Sill community who might have a hard time feeding themselves or their families this time of year, especially after the federal government shutdown.
Bone approached his ceramics teacher, Sherri Denning, about holding an Empty Bowls event to raise funds to help feed the hungry. Denning was on board, and about 30 students in her ceramics class began making pinch pot bowls in October. Students also made table decorations, such as gingerbread houses, snowmen and Christmas trees.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Hungry Hearts and First Christian Church’s Agape program, both of which provide free meals to those in the community.
“It is a way for our class to help the community,” Bone said. “Our hope here is that we will get a lot of money to donate to them to allow them to get more food.”
The bowls will hold the soup and the table decorations will be sold at silent auction the night of the event.
Denning said about 200 bowls have been made but only about 60 tickets have been sold.
“Right now we have more soup than tickets sold,” she said.
Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Attendees will select the bowl they want, and it will be filled with homemade soup. Panera Bread is donating bread, but for those who want dessert, it will cost them. Denning said a grandparent of a student in the class will make cookie trays, which in turn will be auctioned. Attendees will get to keep the bowl that they buy.
Tickets may be requested by calling the Eisenhower High School office at 580-355-9144 and asking for extension 3040. The event is from 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 11 in the school’s commons area. The goal is to raise $1,000, Denning said.