Filling bowls and hearts

Graphic by Caitlin Orsino

Empty Bowls is a Lasell club with a unique purpose. Instead of being a typical club with meetings that primarily benefit the student body, Empty Bowls is dedicated to helping those facing food insecurity in the Newton area.

Through fundraising and community engagement, the club channels its efforts into making a real difference.

On April 4 from 4:30-7 p.m. in de Witt Hall, Empty Bowls will be hosting its 8th annual event, with all proceeds going directly to the Centre Street Food Pantry in Newton. This event wouldn’t have been possible without the planning and dedication of both the club’s advisor, Professor Deborah Baldizar, and its board members. Empty Bowls president and senior elementary education major Isabelle Conway shares that they “start planning the year before, so as soon as the last event ends, it’s like go time for the next event. But then like come September we really hit the ground running.”

Tickets for this event will cost $10 for Lasell students and $20 for outside community members.

Empty Bowls vice president and sophomore elementary education major Erin Berard shares how the event is going to work. “You purchase your ticket, you come up and check-in, then you go inside and you’re ushered to the bowl table. We have a figure-eight table that is filled with bowls that have been made by students throughout the year.”

Each guest will select a handmade bowl to keep as a reminder of the event’s purpose. If they prefer not to eat from it, they can have it wrapped and bagged. In addition to the meal and bowl selection, Empty Bowls has invited alumni musicians to provide live entertainment, and there will be guest speakers who will share their experiences and discuss the impact of food insecurity.

Professor Baldizar’s sabbatical this semester has not changed much in the way that the club has been run. Members of the club continue to meet weekly and make and glaze bowls just like before. Even to the executive board, the only main difference is not having Professor Baldizar’s physical presence, as she is still an active advisor of the club even without physically being in the studio as members of the board have still had constant contact and communication with her.

Berard joined Empty Bowls through Honors Night during her first year on campus, where she immediately fell in love with the club and their mission. From there, she became treasurer, and when the president last year graduated and Conway took her place, Berard was able to step up to the Vice President position.

Conway encourages anyone interested in art or community service to join this club, emphasizing that every contribution, no matter how minor, can make a difference. She notes that prior experience isn’t necessary, participants should simply be eager to learn and prepared to support others.