Combatting Food Insecurity with Art at the Wynne Home

by Olivia Discon

Over the past couple of months, the LEAP Ambassadors have had the opportunity to contribute to one of Huntsville’s most impactful community events: Empty Bowls. This annual event supports the community by combining art, creativity, and a shared commitment to helping those in need.

The Empty Bowls Fundraiser

Empty Bowls involves a series of activities promoting the arts which culminate in a fundraiser for the Senior Center, a local non-profit that, among other things, combats food insecurity.

With grants that provide clay to the Wynne Home, local community members–under the tutelage of skilled ceramicists–create bowls; they then gather again to glaze the bowls; and then the community comes together to purchase soups (donated by local restaurants), obtain a commemorative bowl, and support the local Senior Center.

Creating Our Bowls

Under the guidance of instructor Leara Phillips, we created nine ceramic bowls as part of the Empty Bowls project. For many of us, it was our first time working with clay, and Leara made the process both accessible and enjoyable.

Glazing Our Bowls

After our bowls were put in the kiln, we went in shifts (necessitated by the fact that some of us are in Austin doing internships; and others are in Huntsville) to the Wynne Home, where we glazed and painted our bowls.

One of the many pleasant aspects of this process is getting to meet or reengage with people. For example, we (Cinthia and Saara) had a chance to meet Dr. Maria Botero, who is a professor of Philosophy at SHSU, while also spending time with our instructor (Dakota Dube) and other community members.

Supporting the Community

The beauty of Empty Bowls lies in its ability to bring the community together. It’s not just about making or purchasing a bowl; it’s about creating something tangible that supports a larger mission. Each bowl symbolizes community service and the art of paying it forward, reminding us that small acts of kindness can have a profound impact.

Our student group is honored to be part of this initiative. This semester, we’re looking forward to helping with the painting process and assisting at the event on March 5. We hope everyone will come to the Wynne Home on March 5 between 11am and 2pm to purchase a lunch ($15), pick out your souvenir bowl, and support some great causes!