UF College of Fine Arts project aims to raise funds to combat hunger

February 16, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In a charitable twist on throwing bowls, University of Florida’s School of Art + Art History Community Arts Projects class will host a “Bowl-A-Thon” to combat hunger on Sunday, Feb 18.

All those who attend Sunday’s event at the College of Fine Arts can create handmade ceramic bowls that will be used during an upcoming fundraiser for the organization, Empty Bowls. Empty Bowls (www.emptybowls.com) is an organized effort to raise money to fight hunger in the world community. The bowls made on Feb. 18 will be used to serve soup dished out at the March 29 charitable dinner. For a $10 donation, diners receive a simple meal served in a keepsake handmade bowl.

The School of Art + Art History course, Community Arts Projects, is host to the annual Empty Bowls event. The class hopes to make 250 bowls and 100 percent of proceeds will be donated to Gainesville Harvest.

Gainesville Harvest is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of hunger and reducing waste by delivering surplus food to charities in Alachua County. Harvest picks up excess food from local donors and delivers it to local organizations that feed the hungry.

The “Bowl-A-Thon” runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday in Fine Arts Building D, Room 215 on the UF campus. Demonstrations will be provided and no previous experience is necessary.

Empty Bowls fundraising dinner for Gainesville Food Harvest takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. March 29 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Parrish Hall, 100 N.W. First St., Gainesville. The event is $10 and will feature music, speakers and soup. Tickets will be sold at Omni Books, 99 S.W. 34th St., and also will be sold at the door of the event.