Lambton College's Empty Bowls fundraiser is back this year, following a three year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several local celebrities tried their hands at making a ceramic bowl on Monday, at the college's pottery studio, as a kick off to the 13th annual event.
Funds raised through next month's dinner will support the Inn of the Good Shepherd and the college's Lion’s Heart student food bank.
Inn Executive Director Myles Vanni said they're seeing an increase in people accessing services, partly due to "COVID debt".
"People who went into debt to try and pay their bills and stay on top of things are now kind of trying to pay that off," said Vanni. "Also, we know what inflation has done to the prices at the grocery stores. That's really pinched a lot of people, and has also impacted the food donations coming in. Because the prices are higher, people are often donating less food than they might normally. So, this event will certainly help bridge some of that gap."
Vanni said it was fun to see the creations that the celebrities came up with.
"They're certainly not well-honed potters here," he said with a laugh. "We've got a number of celebrities from around the community just trying to 'throw the clay' they say with making and shaping the bowls. Some will have great success. I remember the first year I did mine, it was more of a bread platter than a soup bowl. But, it's just a lot of fun doing it."
Lambton College Ceramics Professor Beth Turnbull-Morrish said it's always nice to be able to help out the less fortunate.
"Hunger is such a sad thing because food is such a basic need," said Turnbull-Morrish. "It's really nice to be able, even in some small way, fight hunger in the community and help with that need. The skills that we have, we don't always realize how we can use those to help in the community. So, I can make bowls and my friends can make soup and together we can sell tickets and have a great event. It's pretty simple how it comes down to that. So, we invite everyone to think about what skills they have to help out those in the community."
Turnbull-Morrish said it's amazing what can be accomplished by working together.
"It's important to say a 'thank you' to the donors and sponsors that help make the event happen," she said. "Everybody gives a little bit. We've got 13 restaurants donating soup, we've got local bakeries, and we've got the clay suppliers who have given the clay for the bowls. I'm just encouraging everybody to do their own little part in whatever way they can."
Tickets for the Empty Bowls dinner, being held March 24 at the Lambton College Event Centre, are $40 and include a professional handmade bowl, soup, bread, and coffee or tea.
They can be purchased at the Inn of the Good Shepherd, from Lambton College’s Counselling Department, or by visiting www.theinnsarnia.ca.
The celebrity bowls will be put up for auction that night, and there will be live entertainment and games.
This year’s goal is to raise $10,000, and to date the event has brought in over $100,000.
