Giving back to the community by filling empty bowls

Pacific Lutheran University’s Department of Art & Design and Hospitality Services & Campus Restaurants are helping raise money for the hungry, one bowl at a time. PLU’s annual Empty Bowls event will take place Thursday, November 15, from 3-5 p.m. in the Anderson University Center. The event, which is part of an international grassroots effort to fight hunger, will raise money for those in need in Pierce County.

“This program helps both students and the community,” Steve Sobeck, Empty Bowl’s coordinator and resident instructor of Art & Design, said.

“Students learn how big of an impact that art and ceramics can have, and the community is able to take pride that their bowl is hand made.”

This year, the ceramics program is planning to create 150 to 200 bowls for the event. They hope to raise money for those who are hungry and to bring a broader awareness to the ceramics program at PLU. Along with student bowls, there will be additional bowls created by professors in the department.

Hospitality Services & Campus Restaurants will donate ingredients for soup with staff crafting two soup variations (one vegetarian) to occupy the bowls.

Tickets to Empty Bowls are $10 and include a bowl and soup. Tickets are now on sale at the PLU Concierge desk. All proceeds will be donated to the Trinity Lutheran Church and Pierce County Food Banks.