Empty Bowls

The art teacher at my school recently completed a project with our 5th graders. The Empty Bowls Project began as a grassroots initiative by an art teacher in Michigan about 20 years ago. The concept was simple: create a ceramic bowl, serve a meal of soup and bread, and invite guests to take a bowl home with them. In exchange for the empty bowl and the meal, guests are asked to contribute a suggested minimum donation. The money is then used for a local food bank or soup kitchen, or sent as a donation to a national/international charitable group. You can learn more about the Empty Bowls Project here

Our 5th graders created beautiful ceramic bowls, painted them, glazed them and sold them at a school event last weekend. I decided to purchase 4 bowls and felt good knowing my money was going to the food banks in the district to help families struggling to put food on their tables (some of which might be my own students)

The bowls were carefully wrapped in newspaper and then in bright cellophane, tied with ribbon, so I had no idea what I was getting when I chose my 4 bowls.

Much to my surprise, I got a neat little assortment:

This guy is my favorite:

How fitting that the 2 blues are almost identical to my wedding colors, too: Winning!!

I can't wait to find fun and unique uses for these bowls!