Empty Bowls Dinner Calls Attention to World’s Hungry, Supports Local Food Shelf

Students with their bowls from Empty Bowls 2017

This year’s Empty Bowls Dinner, which benefits the Plattsburgh Interfaith Food Shelf, will be Nov. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. in Algonquin Dining Hall.

Diners pick a bowl, handmade by students in Assistant Professor Ali Della Britta’s advanced ceramics class. Dinner, provided by Chartwells, includes soup, bread, beverages and desserts. Participants also get to keep the bowls.

This annual fundraiser at SUNY Plattsburgh started more than 15 years ago when Beryl Matthews, associate professor emerita of art, learned about the project at a conference. The original Empty Bowls Dinner was started in the early 1990s by high school ceramics teacher John Hartom, who wanted to call attention to the world’s hunger and poverty. He challenged his students to throw 120 bowls, which were then used at the first Empty Bowls program. These events are now held annually around the world.

Dinner is $10 for the public and $8 for students.

For more information, contact the SUNY Plattsburgh Art Department at 518-564-2197 or email [email protected].