M State Fergus Falls Empty Bowls Event to Benefit Salvation Army Food Program

Ramona Heitman normally teaches chemistry. In the weeks before April's Empty Bowls fundraiser at M State, she was at a pottery wheel in the college's art room, shaping ceramic bowls alongside community artist volunteer Marit Salveson for a luncheon that has raised nearly $86,000 for the Fergus Falls Salvation Army food program across 18 years.

The 19th edition of the annual fundraiser, organized by M State ceramics instructor Lori Charest and the M State Fine Arts Department, ran April 24 in Legacy Hall on the M State Fergus Falls campus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For a suggested donation of $20, attendees chose an artisan-made bowl, had it filled with soup from Twizt'd Café, and received fresh bread from Service Food Market. Chicken Wild Rice and a vegetable option were on the menu. Every attendee left with their bowl.

Nearly 500 bowls were available for the choosing. The Bowl-A-Thon, held prior to the event, typically produces more than 200 wheels-thrown pieces; trimming, firing and glazing follow the day after. Another 250 to 300 came from previous years' events.

"Empty Bowls has raised almost $86,000 for the local food program in its past 18 years in Fergus Falls," said Charest. "Last year alone, the event generated $7,935. The continual kindness and generosity of our community is so appreciated."

M State volunteers served food, collected donations and washed dishes. Attendees could also tour the college's galleries, where 57 area artists showed paintings, sculptures, textiles and other work as part of the M State Invitational Art Show.

"This beloved annual event brings people together to enjoy a hot lunch of fresh soup and to celebrate the art of giving, as donations collected help fight hunger in our local communities," Charest said. "People also come to see and appreciate the work of our local potters and student artists, who craft hundreds of ceramic bowls for this event, and every attendee gets to keep one."

Empty Bowls is part of a nationwide project of the nonprofit Image/Render Group, an organization dedicated to positive and lasting social change through the arts, education and community-building.