The Empty Bowls project, a locally organized fundraiser that culminated at the Carson City Silver and Snowflake Festival on Dec. 6 and was initiated to bring awareness of local hunger issues, raised $2,722.35 for Friends in Service Helping, also known as FISH, which feeds, houses and provides services for more than 20,000 people in Carson City annually.
More than 600 handcrafted artisan bowls made by dozen of local potters and school children were featured for the inaugural event, led by Robin McGregor, owner of Carson City Pottery. The event was hosted by the Downtown Business Association. Festival-goers made a donation of $10 and picked their own bowls, which were filled with steaming hot varieties of soup donated by local restaurants. Participants could then take the bowls home as a way to remind them of empty bowls in the community.
McGregor notes that 1,200 pounds of clay was donated by Big Ceramic Store in Sparks and Laguna Clay in California. Delivery of clay was donated by bigceramicstore.com.
Approximately 400 pounds of clay was left after making bowls with area schools. Approximately 800 pounds of clay was used, including the "big bowl making day," said McGregor. The event was at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada where there were four bowl making stations taught by Richard McGregor, Molly McGregor, Merrill Moore and Debbie Anderson, said McGregor.
Camille Howard painted on bisquet fired bowls with the public and Jo Moore helped people glaze. The Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada and Carson City Pottery donated workspace for the event, and some kiln firings. Carson City Pottery and Camille Howard donated glazes, and Camille also donated some kiln firings as did Merrill and Jo Moore of Ogresholm Pottery.
Says McGregor: "We put out a request to the schools to allow us to come in and make bowls with their students. We had responses from Bethlehem Lutheran and Fritsch Elementary, both in Carson City. At Fritsch, we worked with the 4th and 5th graders. On the last day there, one of the students told me that when his family had no money FISH fed them. He was one students who skipped recess to make an additional bowl. Virginia City High School donated bowls handmade by students and the art teacher Brian Bolton for the event."
Restaurants that participated:
Adele’s
Carson City Confections
Carson City Sheriff's Dept
Carson Nuggett
Comma Coffee
Dream Dinners
El Charro Avitia
FISH
Foodies Bystro
Glen Eagles
Good to go Pizza Deli (Washoe Valley Deli)
Mallards Restaurant @ Empire Ranch Golf course
San Marcos Grill
Sassafras
Slotworld
South Carson Pizza Factory
The Grille at Gold Dust West
Villa Basque Cafe
Potters and artists who donated bowls and other artwork:
Camille Howard
Clair Bridwell
Debbi Anderson, Turtle Mountain Designs
Dorothy Peters
Fran Culverhouse
Greg Relaford
Irene A. Wytzka Lawson
Jill Brugler
Jo and Merrill Moore, Ogresholm Pottery
Judy Brandt
PJ Nosek
Randal lPearsall
Robin and Rich McGregor, Carson City Pottery
Sapphire Wizard Fired Arts
Sarah Reesor
Sharon Randall, Copper Kiln Pottery Works
William Hutchison, Hutchison Glass Studio
Zoe Hamilton
Others who donated items:
Economy Speed Press (Carson City)
Blank Shirts
ButtsupDuck
Dutch Brothers Coffee