Tempe students and local artists filled Tempe Beach Park Saturday, selling their own clay bowls to raise money for the Empty Bowls charity. All proceeds go to the United Food Bank's Kids' Cafe Program. In addition to the bowls for sale, families and volunteers enjoyed music provided by a local radio station, The Edge 103.9, and food sold by Whole Foods.
Empty Bowls is a charity created by a Michigan teacher in the early 90s, according to its Web site. Its purpose is to raise money and awareness for hungry people in the world through the making and selling of clay bowls.
Dan Abbott, the head organizer for Tempe's Empty Bowls event, said for $10 people get to take home a handmade bowl and are fed a meal that, in many parts of the world, people have to eat everyday, like soup or beans.
Tempe high schools and elementary schools contributed a large part of the bowls. There was a separate table set up with a sign saying "Kids' Bowls," which were created by Tempe elementary students in their art classes.
"Our preliminary amount raised this weekend is between $12,000 and $13,000," Abbott said. "But we will probably exceed that in the next few days when volunteers bring the remaining bowls to their places of work and friends and sell the rest there."
According to Abbott, the Tempe division of the Empty Bowls started seven years ago when he heard about the charity through a friend and had a meeting at his church with other congregations to discuss putting it together.
"We had Mormons, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, and Christians all sitting down thinking about putting it on," Abbott said. "So it started that way, but now it's not so much a faith motivated thing, but still motivated to respond to hunger."
Volunteers were diverse in age and occupation, including high school and college students, children, and senior citizens. Barbara Hackbarth, an accountant and long time resident of Tempe, volunteered at Saturday's event and contributed bowls she made.
"We'll have a day in January where we all go into the Tempe City Center and throw clay all day," Hackbarth said. "It's the perfect combination, having it be my hobby and keeping people fed."
Maya Jones was among many visitors browsing through the bowls. Jones said she heard about Empty Bowls and their event in Tempe through a friend.
"This is my first time attending, but I think it's a really great idea," Jones said.
Reach the reporter at: sklloyd@asu.edu.
