March 29, 2024

Aitken School Students Create “Empty Bowls” to Support Doorways

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Jacqueline “Jackie” Glum had a vision of a project that would help connect her students to the community and foster a culture of service and caring. She was inspired to create a variation on the “Empty Bowls” theme, customized to appeal to elementary school students (for example, her event featured bowls of ice cream instead of the more traditional bowls of soup.) But, as with all “Empty Bowl” events, the goal was to help fight hunger.

Jackie obtained a grant from the Seekonk Cultural Council to purchase the clay used to make the bowls, and then involved students from grades K-5 in forming the clay into bowls. The clay was kiln-dried twice and then the students painted the bowls – a veritable kaleidoscope of colors and patterns. The bowls were sold at the event as a fundraiser for the Doorways food pantry.

The event itself had the air of a festival. Young musicians from the School of Rock provided live entertainment, and dozens of gallons of ice cream was donated by the Hershey facility in town. “Celebrity scoopers” doled out generous portions of ice cream – the scoopers represented the police department, the fire department, the library, the school system, the town government, and the food pantry. A wonderful time was had by all - and the event raised over $1,600.00 for the Doorways food pantry. “That money will buy a great deal of food” said Diane Fox, chief of purchasing for Doorways. “There will be a lot fewer empty bowls in town because of the work of those students – and their teacher.”

Empty Bowls supports food-related charitable organizations around the world, and has raised millions of dollars to help end hunger. This event was the first of its kind in Seekonk. Doorways is grateful to Ms. Glum, and the students, faculty, staff and families of Aitken School for their support.

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