The “Empty Bowls” fundraiser, sponsored by the new High School Empty Bowls Club and community volunteers with Warwick Valley Empty Bowls, was recently held at the Warwick Valley High School (WVHS). Warwick Valley Empty Bowls is part of an organized effort to fight hunger in communities across the United States and in other countries.

      Guests enjoyed a delicious meal of soups, bread, dessert and beverages. The event also featured a wide variety of beautiful handmade pottery bowls available for purchase, performances by talented WVHS student musicians, kids’ hands-on pottery activities, pottery demos, and a silent auction.

      Many attendees purchased a pottery bowl as a reminder of the event and to support the cause. Local potters made and generously donated pottery bowls for “Empty Bowls” events. This year, bowls made by the WVHS Empty Bowls Club members were also available for purchase. Empty Bowls Club members worked with WVHS teachers and local potters to learn how to make, decorate and glaze bowls for the event.

      Proceeds of over $1,300 from the event will benefit the following organizations in the Town of Warwick that provide food or meals to those in need: the Backpack Snack Attack Program, for students in the Town’s public schools; the Warwick Community Kitchen in Pine Island; the Florida Community Food Pantry; the Greenwood Lake Food Pantry; the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry; and the St. Peter Lutheran Church Food Pantry in Pine Island.

      A photo album of the event may be viewed on the WVCSD public Facebook page. For more info. about Warwick Valley Empty Bowls visit www.warwickvalleyemptybowls.org or on the Facebook page.

WVHS Empty Bowls Club members prepared clay balls for kids’ pottery projects. (Photo provided)

WVHS Empty Bowls Club members showed some of the hundreds of beautiful bowls made & donated by local potters & students for this fundraiser. (Photo provided)

Showing off their Empty Bowls temporary tattoos are WVHS Empty Bowls Club advisors, teachers Shari Blauner & Gina Buffardi, as well as several club members. (Photo provided)

A proud young potter showed off his clay project. (Photo provided)

Tables of handmade pottery bowls were available for attendees to purchase at the Empty Bowls event. (Photo provided)