Empty Bowls fundraiser hailed as success | News | alvinsun.net

Oct 17, 2024

ACC Volunteer Instructor Kenneth "Mr Bill" Bartholomew talks to his students during the Empty Bowls event at the college on Oct. 8.

(Photo by Kim Bitner Ford)

The Empty Bowls Fundraiser held on October 8 at Alvin Community College was once again a crowd pleaser. The fundraising event that supports Alvin Meals on Wheels has become, not only a terrific opportunity to help others, but to view and purchase great works of art from ACC students and community artisans.

The event was truly an experience. Upon entering the ACC Student Center, the smell of delicious soups being ladled up by a line of local chefs welcomed guests to sample a warm, satisfying bowl of soup. People mingled as they browsed the beautiful ceramic artwork displayed across the room.

A table laden with hundreds of beautifully crafted clay ceramic bowls lined an entire wall of the venue. Each guest got to select one of the original, one-of-a-kind bowls to take home as a memento of the event. Kenneth “Mr. Bill” Bartholomew one of the artists and volunteer instructor at the school, greeted guests and explained how the bowls are made. He is indeed an expert on the bowls as he has been at ACC since 1989, has four associate’s degrees, and is still instructing students in the art of pottery at 93 years old.

He explained that the pottery bowls have been lovingly made by college and high school students, community members, and even some of the youngest members of the Alvin community such as Girl and Boy Scout troops. The bowls ranged in shape, style, and color from Cobalt Blue to deep hues of chocolate brown;

“Mr. Bill” bowls were distinctly marked with squiggly lines on the bottom for those who wanted an original bowl made by a very original artist. The art department begins to plan for next year’s event in January; students donate their time and the materials to make the bowls. Approximately 500 bowls sell per year raising between $10,000 to $14,000 for Alvin Meals on Wheels.

Andy Tacquard, Meals on Wheels Board President, explained that the fundraiser began eight years ago when the organization took bowls to the Houston Food Bank to sell. Later, they teamed up with the ACC Art Department to base the event at Alvin Community College. Tacquard said, “It keeps getting bigger and better every year! Last year we made $14,000 for Meals on Wheels.” He expressed that Meals on Wheels receives no government funding; all donations come from citizens, churches, businesses, clubs, and the fundraisers.

Local restaurants donate soup, bread, and their time. Contributing restaurants this year were Chili’s, Chick-Fil-A, Corey’s Kitchen, Gordon Street Tavern, JB Hensler CTE School, Joe’s BBQ, Juanita’s Taqueria, Kelly’s Country Cookin,’ Olive Garden, Red Oak Café, and Teaspoon Café. Tacquard has been on the Meals on Wheels Board for 20 years and attributes the success of the event to a great group of volunteers.

The Chair of the ACC Art Department, Alexis Ordonez, shared that Empty Bowls was inspired by Dennis LaValley, Chairman of the ACC Art Department for 30 years. Before his death in 2023, LaValley passed his knowledge of making beautiful pottery to his students and stressed the importance of giving back to the community.

Ordonez remarked, “We like to remember Dennis with this event. We want to honor his legacy.” He added “No other schools have a program like this; we want to “share his vision.” He said, “We try to include students, staff, and really make it a community effort.”

The process of making the bowls is a labor of love. The artists make their own clay, throw the bowls using a potter’s wheel, and have the bowls finished, glazed, and fired by Juan Lara, ACC Lab Assistant. Although Hurricane Beryl delayed the creation of the bowls this year, the art department was able to come together, forge on, and get the bowls completed.

The Empty Bowls concept began in the early 1990s when John Hartom, an art teacher in Michigan, had his students make ceramic bowls in art class to sell at a local soup fundraiser. Diners at the meals were served soup and bread, and as a thank you, they were allowed to keep the handmade bowls as a reminder of those with empty bowls. Empty Bowls Fundraisers have flourished since then and have proven to be a viable means to help others.

The Empty Bowls Fundraiser supplies an exceptional opportunity to come together as a community, admire the work of talented artists, take home a beautiful handmade bowl, and help those in need. Meals on Wheels works tirelessly year-round to supply nutritional meals for Alvin area citizens who cannot prepare or obtain a meal on their own. To donate to Alvin Meals on Wheels, send to AMOW, P.O. Box 2086, Alvin, Texas 77511. Checks can be made out to AMOW..

Log In

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,racist or sexually-oriented language.PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.Don't Threaten. Threats of harming anotherperson will not be tolerated.Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyoneor anything.Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ismthat is degrading to another person.Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link oneach comment to let us know of abusive posts.Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitnessaccounts, the history behind an article.

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.