Molly O’Keefe/Winonan

Faculty and students at Winona State recently aided the fight against hunger.

The Empty Bowls Fundraiser, which took place on campus last Thursday, raised awareness of hunger and donated the proceeds to the Winona Food Shelf.

The fundraiser was organized and sponsored by the Winona State University art department, ceramics classes and Watkins Gallery.

Anne Plummer, chair of the Winona State art department, said, “The idea for the Empty Bowls Fundraiser was first started in 1991 by high school teachers in Michigan.

The event was so successful that they decided to try it on a larger scale and it caught on from there.”

The concept for Empty Bowls is very simple; each guest gives a donation and gets to pick out a bowl. Guests are then provided with a simple meal of soup and bread, and they get to keep the bowl.

Plummer said, “This is our eighth year sponsoring the Empty Bowls Fundraiser and we always get a good turn out.”

Plummer, along with ceramics students and local potters, worked hard to make unique and beautiful bowls for the event.
“We had a lot of help making the bowls,” Plummer said.

Stephanie Kunold, a student at Winona State, has participated in the Empty Bowls event four times.
Kunold said, “ It really is a rewarding thing for the students and the community. As a student, you are able to donate bowls and Anne sets up one day where potters from around the area come and all throw on campus. Being able to meet these potters is a great experience and helps make great career connections for the future.”

After the ceramic bowls are prepared, local businesses donate soup and bread for the event.
Plummer said, “This year we have the Bluff Country Co-op, Acoustic Café, Chartwells, the Blue Heron, Bloedows and Beno’s to thank for their donations of bread and soup.”

“The students are always eager to participate in the fundraiser,” Plummer said.

“They are very proud of their work and it is very rewarding to see others enjoy their bowls.”

“When it comes time to start selling the bowls and soup, it is really fun to see all the people picking out which bowls they want and sometimes you even meet the person that chose your bowl,” Kunold said, “It is really rewarding all around for the students and because all of the money is donated it keeps WSU an integrated part of the community.”
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