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POTTERS
GUILD

of BRITISH

COLUMBIA
a
NEWSLETTER

be potters

February 2004 Volume 40, No.2

Project Empty Bowl

In 1990, a couple of high school art teachers came up with a community project for their stu-
dents. The class threw dozens of bowls, and then invited the school to come to a lunch where
they were served stew, made a donation and got to keep the bowls. The proceeds were donated.
to a local food relief charity and the Empty Bowls Project was born. The idea was such a good.
one that guilds, schools and individual potters took it up and spread the event across North
America. Millions of dollars have been raised, one bowl at a time, to provide food for the hungry.

In Vancouver, potters Rachelle Chinnery and Linda Doherty produced the first Project Empty
Bowl in 1998 at the sadly missed Canadian Craft Museum as a benefit for A Loving Spoonful.
This registered charity provides 100,000 meals each year to men, women and children with a
medical need for nutritional support. About half of these meals go to those who are homebound.
by AIDS. The rest supports those who are effectively homeless, struggling not just with AIDS but
also acute poverty.

A preventative program supplies infant formula to HIV+ mothers, as there is a 1 in 4 chance of
a child contracting HIV through breast feeding, even though they may be born HIV negative,
thanks to medical interventions during pregnancy and birth. The charity receives only 25% of
funds from government sources (food support is not the responsibility of any ministry). The
other 75% is raised with the support of individuals like you. Each high-protein entree costs only
$3.75 and the home visits by volunteer drivers are sometimes just as welcome as the actual meals!

Artisans in clay, wood, glass and other materials create bowls that will ultimately become nourish-
ing meals for A Loving Spoonful’s clients. On Wednesday March 31, 7pm, Project Empty Bowl
will take place at Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street. Guests arrive, are greeted.
with the gift of a hand-crafted bowl and then fill it with delicious soups
and stews throughout the evening. Live and silent auctions add to the
excitement of the night.

A Loving Spoonful needs bowls suitable to serve soup and stew in for event
attendees. If you have the time to make a couple of bowls and drop them
off at either the Gallery of BC Ceramics or A Loving Spoonful (100-1300

Richards Street), it will be much appreciated. Ifyou are feeling particularly
<< generous, more significant pots are needed for the silent auction.

Ifyou have any questions, or would like to reserve a ticket, please call Karen
Opas at 604-682-6325 or email: volunteers@alovingspoonful.org

Clockwise from top left, Keith Lehman, Darrel Hancock and Cathi Jefferson