On Sept. 23, MGA hosted its first Empty Bowls Fundraiser to help fight hunger across the region. MGA students on the Cochran and Macon campuses created about 300 ceramic bowls for the fundraiser luncheon for the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank.
Empty Bowls fundraisers generally work like this: Volunteers create handmade bowls, usually ceramic but sometimes using other materials. Guests buy tickets to the fundraiser and, using the bowls, dine on a simple meal, which is usually soup and bread to highlight the contrast between abundance and scarcity. The guests take home their purchased bowls, which serve as a reminder of the many empty bowls throughout the world. The proceeds benefit organizations that supply food to people in need, making the event both an artistic and community-focused effort.
“We want students to see early in their college careers that the skills they’re developing can serve others,” said Kimberly Riner, assistant professor of arts-ceramics 3D. “Empty Bowls gives our class real‑world purpose, which is learning to design and craft bowls, then sharing them to support neighbors facing food insecurity.”
41 NBC provided coverage of the event.
"'We had people from different walks of life, different professions, different organizations who have a deep concern about our neighbors who don’t get the food they need. And it was wonderful seeing the community come together…we had over 200 people here today.'"
