Emily Dean/ Winonan

Winona State students, as well as potters from around the community, made more than 150 ceramic bowls to sell at the Winona State University ninth annual Empty Bowls fundraiser this past Thursday. All proceeds were donated to the Winona food shelf.

Local restaurants such as the Blue Heron and The Acoustic Café donated the soup that was served.

For a $10-$15 donation, participants received a hand crafted bowl and soup to enjoy.

Anne Plummer, Winona State ceramics professor and organizer of Empty Bowls, said the event gives students an opportunity to serve their community.

“As a university, it’s part of our mission to serve the community,” Plummer said. “The food shelf is always in need of help.”

This year, Plummer said, potters from around the community played a big role in donating bowls for the event.

The ceramics department held a “bowl-a-thon” where students and community potters got together before the event to create bowls.

Plummer said the event not only helped with preparing for the fundraiser but also gave students an opportunity to interact with potters from around the community.

Students who are not art majors also had the opportunity to donate bowls. Plummer said she involves her introduction to ceramics classes by having them donate some of their bowls at the end of the semester.

Along with students and community members, Winona State’s ceramics club, Mud Club, donated bowls.

Senior studio art major Kathleen Crum donated some of her work to Empty Bowls and volunteered at this year’s fundraiser.

Crum said this was her second year participating. She enjoys participating because of the fundraisers uniqueness.

“Its very artsy,” Crum said. “Winona is kind of a mecca for art, and people like supporting students.”

Crum also said how this particular fundraiser hits close to home.

“As a student, I myself have had to go to the food shelf,” Crum said. “There are a lot of people who use it.”

Crum said it is a great experience not only for artists but also for students who are not art majors.

“There are even bowls that were donated from Sunday school kids,” Crum said. “Anne gets students involved. Any students who takes one of her classes end up donating.”

Plummer said next year she hopes to get more publicity for the event and to get more students involved from around campus.

“It’s a fun event to go to,” Plummer said. “People enjoy coming to pick out their bowls and know that the money is going back to the community.”