Are you looking for more ways to help the hungry in our community? Do you wish there was a way to involve your children in philanthropy? Hub City Empty Bowls is an organization you’ll want to check out. Kidding Around Contributor Melanie brought her son to a Hub City Empty Bowls Bowl Making Session and she’s telling us about this group, what they do, and how you can help.
Hub City Empty Bowls: Bowl Making Session
Since 2009, Hub City Empty Bowls organizes events in partnership with local potters. Everyone is invited to come and create a one-of-a-kind bowl. These bowls are later sold at bottomless soup events, with the proceeds going toward ending food insecurity right here in Spartanburg.
The sessions are free and held throughout the year. Everyone is invited, regardless of ability. There are experienced potters there to guide you through the process. When you arrive, find an empty seat and you’ll be given a disc of clay by a volunteer. There will be a bowl form to help you mold the clay into a bowl shape. After you have the clay shaped the way you’d like, the sky is the limit as to how you make the bowl unique. The last time we went there were extra items on the tables for adding texture. I found a stamp tool with a little dolphin on it, and used it in on the inside of my bowl at the bottom; that way he’ll be waiting there for anyone who finishes their soup!
The potter volunteers are patient and knowledgeable! When my son was having trouble deciding on a way to finish the top rim of the bowl and treated him like he was the only one in the room. This is a fun and way to involve children in something charitable.
Hub City Empty Bowls: Soup Day
Once you’ve completed your design, you’ll leave it to be glazed and fired. Towards the end of the year, you can return to the “Soup Day” event and try to find yours. For a donation of $20 per bowl, you’ll receive bottomless soup (provided by local restaurants), bread and tea while enjoying live music.
The 2020 Soup Day event will be Saturday, November 7th at RJ Rockers Brewery.
In recent years, with the help of the community, Hub City Empty bowls have raised over $33,000 a year. As the popularity of the event increases, it’s a good idea to arrive early as supplies might be limited.
Upcoming Events
Check the website regularly for event announcements and bowl making session dates.
Hub City Empty Bowls will have its first public bowl-making session of 2020 at Wofford College, Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts on Monday, January 20th from 10 am- 12 pm and 1 pm -3 pm. No registration is required. Just show up during those hours if you want to help.
Hub City Empty Bowls will have a Preview Party, followed by its annual Soup Day in October on a date yet to be determined.
This is a great opportunity for you to find and retrieve the bowl you made at a bowl-making session if you were wanting to keep it for yourself.
Will your family contribute to making some of the 1,000 bowls?