The popular Empty Bowls fundraiser is marking its 15th anniversary this year, and it's hoped at least $12,000 will be collected to fight hunger locally.
The unofficial kick off to the event was held on Monday with the Celebrity Bowl-a-Thon in Lambton College's pottery studio.
Ceramics Professor Beth Turnbull Morrish helped various community leaders, police officers, media personalities, including Blackburn Media's Ben Maddigan and others create their works of art.
She said making bowls can be harder than it looks.
"We tell our first timers that if they get anything that is in tact and the walls are still standing, you've made something," said Turnbull Morrish. "We'll call it a bowl-like creation."
Turnbull Morrish said it's always a fun event to take part in.
"I love the people that I get to work with to make it all happen," she said. "The volunteers from the potters' guild are amazing. The college is such a great facility. It's fun to use the skills that we have to be able to help the community."
Proceeds from the dinner support the Inn of the Good Shepherd and the Lambton College Lion’s Heart student food bank.
Inn Executive Director Myles Vanni said the springtime is generally slower for collecting donations.
"Everybody knows the cost of food and how it's impacted their own budgets, and that's made it really tough for a lot of families," said Vanni. "We're at about a 20 per cent increase from about a year ago in the number of people using the food bank. So, we're at over 2,200 people a month. At the same time, we're seeing donations shrinking a bit because people aren't able to pick up those extra things."
The finished bowls will be available for purchase by donation during the Empty Bowls dinner Thursday, April 3.
More experienced potters of Lambton College and the Sarnia Lambton Potters’ Guild will create over 400 pottery bowls which guests will take home as a reminder of what the event is all about—recognizing world hunger and helping to fight it locally.
Several local restaurants will make and donate the delectable soups for the event.
To date, the event has generated over $130,000.
Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at the Inn of the Good Shepherd at 115 John Street, or by visiting them online.
The ticket price includes a handmade bowl, soup, bread, and coffee or tea.
