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empty bowls and volunteerism

updated mon 30 jun 97

 

Emily Henderson on thu 5 jun 97

Hi all. Yes, it's still raining but I'm again looking for help. Well, it
looks like it will happen. We will have an Empty Bowls project in Astoria
this fall. Potters are making pots and it seems the churches are willing to
take the project on. I am looking for any info on the history of the idea,
other communities that do something like this, any anecdotes or anything you
can give me. I am trying to but together a brochure to motivate potters to
pot and as basic info for the press and community.
This is what we plan:
The churches (to date, the Catholics, 2 Lutheran churches, BaHai,
Unitarians, Presbyterians, and Episcopaelian will provide dinner sites and
volunteers) The dinner is to be soup and bread; the potters will donate
their bowls. There is also some discussion of school participation,
boy/girl scouts, 4H etc. We seem only limited by kiln space. One of the
best potters in the area, Rod Maxwell-Muir, is also going to donate a
large piece (like a bowl), for a raffle to be won by potters to motivate
them. (Everyone wants one of his pieces) The potters have two
restrictions, that the funds go to direct support the poor in our area for
basic needs, food, shelter and clothing that there be no religious or
sectarian concern. So... for any of you who have done this, ideas, history
etc. will be much appreciated. I need the data to put together an outline
for the representives of the churches by 8 am next Wednesday. I know, not
much time...so help is needed big time. It's a kind idea, everybody seems
to win. I really hope we can do this thing. Emily in Astoria where I've
got to get back to Ron and Karl and I still haven't had a chance to read my
e-mail

Lori and Rob on sun 8 jun 97

Although I do not know the history or origin of "Empty Bowls", Phoenix
AZ has been putting on the event for some years now. The Arizona Clay
Guild sponsors it. Any Potter who cares to participate can, by
designing and making from one to several bowls. The bowls are then
donated to "Empty Bowls" by the artist. A large lunch/dinner sale is
then put on. People come and purchase the bowls either with or with out
lunch/dinner. All the money from the sales go to local food banks and
homelss shelters. As far as I know it has been pretty successful.
You could probably contact The Clay/Potters Guild in Phoenix AZ. Sorry
I could'nt help with a phone number or anything but I live about 300
miles from Phoenix.

Always in clay,
Lori Lynn

kinoko@junction.net on sun 8 jun 97

Every one everywhere, That's the ticket. Don't attempt to solve the problem
of hunger and homelessness,,,,just glue on another patch and hope theses
people will go away. Orestes A. Brownson,Boston Quarterly, July,1840: Wages
is a cunning device of the devil, for the benefit of tender consciences,who
would retain all the benefits of the slave system,without the
expense,trouble and odium of being slave-holders." kinoko.
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Although I do not know the history or origin of "Empty Bowls", Phoenix
>AZ has been putting on the event for some years now. The Arizona Clay
>Guild sponsors it. Any Potter who cares to participate can, by
>designing and making from one to several bowls. The bowls are then
>donated to "Empty Bowls" by the artist. A large lunch/dinner sale is
>then put on. People come and purchase the bowls either with or with out
>lunch/dinner. All the money from the sales go to local food banks and
>homelss shelters. As far as I know it has been pretty successful.
>You could probably contact The Clay/Potters Guild in Phoenix AZ. Sorry
>I could'nt help with a phone number or anything but I live about 300
>miles from Phoenix.
>
>Always in clay,
>Lori Lynn
>
>
*****************************************
*****************************************
** Don and Isao Morrill **
** Falkland, B.C. **
** kinoko@junction.net **
*****************************************
*****************************************

Michelle H. Lowe on mon 9 jun 97

From: Self
To: Lori and Rob
Subject: Re: EMPTY BOWLS and Volunteerism
Date sent: Sun, 8 Jun 1997 12:25:59

Hi,
I am connected with the Arizona Clay club that Lori talks about
below. This is our seventh year of doing Empty Bowls. We have
raised over $50,000, all of which goes to local charities for the
hungry. The original Empty Bowls project was started in Michigan and
there is a place to write or call for a "beginners packet" of
information. I seem to have misplaced that address but will try to
post it as soon as I can find it, if anyone else has it, please post
it to the list :-)

For more information about the Phoenix area Empty Bowls you can
contact me at my email- mishlowe@indirect.com

Mishy

Lori wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message---------------------------- Although I do not know the
> history or origin of "Empty Bowls", Phoenix AZ has been putting on
> the event for some years now. The Arizona Clay Guild sponsors it.
> Any Potter who cares to participate can, by designing and making
> from one to several bowls. The bowls are then donated to "Empty
> Bowls" by the artist. A large lunch/dinner sale is then put on.
> People come and purchase the bowls either with or with out
> lunch/dinner. All the money from the sales go to local food banks
> and homelss shelters. As far as I know it has been pretty
> successful. You could probably contact The Clay/Potters Guild in
> Phoenix AZ. Sorry I could'nt help with a phone number or anything
> but I live about 300 miles from Phoenix.
>
> Always in clay,
> Lori Lynn
>
>
Michelle Lowe, potter in the Phoenix desert \|/ |
mishlowe@indirect.com -O- | |
mishlowe@aztec.asu.edu /|\ | | |
|_|_|
http://www.amug.org/~mishlowe ____ |
-\ /-----|-----
( )
<__>

Jennifer Rhinesmith on tue 10 jun 97

Emily, I don't know how the history on this, but when you decide when your
going to do this please let me know. I have given bowls to this kind of a
cause before and I would be interested in donating to this cause again.
There are also others that I know of that would donate to this. thanks,
Jennifer in Alpine, TX

On Thu, 5 Jun 1997, Emily Henderson wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi all. Yes, it's still raining but I'm again looking for help. Well, it
> looks like it will happen. We will have an Empty Bowls project in Astoria
> this fall. Potters are making pots and it seems the churches are willing to
> take the project on. I am looking for any info on the history of the idea,
> other communities that do something like this, any anecdotes or anything you
> can give me. I am trying to but together a brochure to motivate potters to
> pot and as basic info for the press and community.
> This is what we plan:
> The churches (to date, the Catholics, 2 Lutheran churches, BaHai,
> Unitarians, Presbyterians, and Episcopaelian will provide dinner sites and
> volunteers) The dinner is to be soup and bread; the potters will donate
> their bowls. There is also some discussion of school participation,
> boy/girl scouts, 4H etc. We seem only limited by kiln space. One of the
> best potters in the area, Rod Maxwell-Muir, is also going to donate a
> large piece (like a bowl), for a raffle to be won by potters to motivate
> them. (Everyone wants one of his pieces) The potters have two
> restrictions, that the funds go to direct support the poor in our area for
> basic needs, food, shelter and clothing that there be no religious or
> sectarian concern. So... for any of you who have done this, ideas, history
> etc. will be much appreciated. I need the data to put together an outline
> for the representives of the churches by 8 am next Wednesday. I know, not
> much time...so help is needed big time. It's a kind idea, everybody seems
> to win. I really hope we can do this thing. Emily in Astoria where I've
> got to get back to Ron and Karl and I still haven't had a chance to read my
> e-mail
>

The Slack-DeBrock Family on wed 11 jun 97

The people who began the Empty Bowls project are John Hartom and Lisa
Blackburn, P.o. Box 40, Franklin, michigan 48025. Don't have a phone #
available but i am sure you can get it through information. they have an
entire packet, including materials to give to your sponsor groups, so you
could save yourself much work by contacting them! They also try to kep
track of everyone participating in this project and how much money is being
earned, so it's respectful to check in.
It's an absolutely wonderful idea, and our potters' group-Common Ground-
has done many events in a variety of ways in our community. Let me know if
you have any other questions!
Joan Slack-DeBrock/River Run Pottery
P.O.Box 95
McNaughton, WI 54543
715-277-2773
riverrun@newnorth.net