A program at the University at Pittsburgh at Bradford is
bringing awareness to the fight against hunger by offering an Empty
Bowls and Baskets Dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 15.
Dr. Holly Spittler, chair of the Women’s History Month Committee
which is sponsoring the event, explained Monday the dinner is based
on an idea created by an art teacher in Michigan in 1990.
“Students made bowls to raise money for hunger-related issues,”
Spittler said. The message of the dinner was that hunger need not
exist, as there is more than enough food produced every day to feed
every person on the planet.
The teacher’s idea caught on.
“It’s worldwide now,” Spittler said. This is the second year for
the program at Pitt-Bradford, and last year’s response was
“overwhelming.”
And it continues to be, as more than 100 volunteers have already
turned out to make bowls, homemade soup and cookies and have
offered to work the event.
“You buy a ticket at the door,” Spittler explained. That
entitles the attendee to a “modest meal. There’s always plenty to
eat.”
People who attend the dinner may chose from more than 20
different homemade soups, breads and cookies to eat. When finished,
they may select a bowl or basket to take home with them as a
reminder – when they see the empty bowl or basket, remember the
ongoing fight against hunger.
Spittler explained the baskets are a new addition this year, as
one of the Pitt-Bradford professors is a master in the craft.
“There’s a tradition of basket-making in some of our clubs,” she
explained. “Betsy Matz is a master basket maker and she’s leading
the volunteers.”
The Pitt-Bradford Art Club is making bowls in the ceramic studio
at the University; the Federal Correctional Institute at McKean has
inmates making bowls; and the Bradford Area High School art classes
under the direction of Scott Mealy have also made bowls.
Pitt-Bradford students have also hand-painted bisque bowls for
the event.
Also, Bradford area third grade students have been asked to
decorate placemats for the occasion – after they’ve had lessons on
hunger or nutrition to spread awareness of the problem.
“The placemats will be used on the tables at the dinner,”
Spittler said, adding, “we’re reaching all levels of the
community.”
The proceeds raised at the dinner will be donated to The
Friendship Table, which serves more than 2,200 hot meals every
month to needy people.
“Last year, we raised $1,300,” Spittler said. “We were pleased
to learn this was matched by one of their funding sources. If we
could make as much as we did last year or more, we’d be
pleased.”
She said there would be about 120 bowls and 30 baskets available
for the upcoming dinner, and at least 150 volunteers from the
campus community and the Bradford community as well.
“While the premise of the dinner is simple, the activities
associated with it are pervasive and far reaching,” Spittler said.
“It’s a project that promotes the arts, involves volunteers of all
ages creating bowls and baskets; increases our awareness of the
problem of hunger on a local, national and international level, and
most importantly, brings the campus and community together for a
common cause.”
The event is also sponsored by American Association of
University Women, Center for Leadership and Service, Division of
Communication and the Arts, Metz and Associates, Division of
Management of Education and the Division of Student Affairs, as
well as other sponsors.
