Every year since 2013, students kindergarten through the 12th grade have helped other students fight hunger in the Brazos Valley through The Art Council’s Empty Bowls, Jr. event. On Feb. 29, locals can be a part of this campaign at Allen Honda from 11am to 1:30pm.
For each $10 donation at Empty Bowls community members can take home a bowl made by local students and teachers. Local restaurants provide a cup of soup and a slice of bread for each donation. Each bowl is meant to remind the community of all the empty bowls in the Brazos Valley community, and as such proceeds support in-school food pantries across the Brazos Valley as well as other Arts Council programs.
“This event has been really successful,” says Amy Salvaggio, deputy director of The Arts Council. We have seen a lot of support from the community and see growth every year. I think the community gets behind supporting school food pantries and they can see where their donation is going.”
Jody Gougler manages the school food pantry at A&M Consolidated High School. Their food pantry opened in 2013 — the second in Texas and first in the Brazos Valley.
“A lot of people don’t realize that the need is in our community and Empty Bowls, Jr. raises awareness directly,” says Gougler. “You have kids willing to create, put their heart and souls into the bowls, and donate to raise money and raise awareness — it’s huge!”
You have to be 18 to utilize a food pantry, says Gougler. The Brazos Valley Food Bank and other partners provide backpacks with food for students younger than 10. So that leaves a gap between the two programs, which in-school food pantries can help fill. The funds from Empty Bowls allocated to the food pantry allow schools to stock their shelves and help students with a variety of needs. Gougler says each campus handles their pantry differently, but could include non-perishable food items, toiletries, household supplies, and more.
“A lot of people don’t realize how prevalent food insecurity is and it’s fluid,” Gougler says.
The Arts Council Executive Director Sheree Boegner has been participating in Empty Bowls since before taking over the role of executive director last year. She has seen the impact not only on the food pantries, but the students donating their art as well.
“These bowls — they are creating art, then it goes to an event, and their bowl sells,” Boegner explains. “Think of the confidence that goes into a kid that they know someone bought their art. We are building that creativity, building their confidence, and helping provide for services they need.”
Empty Bowls also falls right into The Art Council’s mission to make arts accessible to all residents and visitors of the Brazos Valley.
Everyone has the opportunity to further this mission on Feb. 29 with a $10 donation for a bowl. For more information, visit www.acbv.org.
