Porirua potters help the homeless
Helping the homeless was an easy choice for the potters of Wellington as they ramp up for this year’s Empty Bowls charity drive.
The Gear Homestead Woolshed Potters in Porirua is one of the clubs that have been busy shaping, glazing and creating nearly 100 bowls for a charity drive to help the homeless.
Treasurer Linda Savell said the pottery community in Porirua had really pulled together to create a mix of bowls for this year’s Empty Bowls drive.
‘‘It’s that whole idea that you buy a soup bowl to support the soup kitchen.’’
The charity drive is back for another year and Wellington potters such as Savell and her fellow club members, are coming together to lend a hand and make between 800 and 900 bowls to sell.
The Porirua club has been hosting regular sessions for its members to come along and put their own spin on a bowl.
They originally set themselves a goal of 60 bowls; to date, they have made 95.
Savell said once they’d made their way through the clay donated by Manage My Property, many potters started bringing in their own clay to make more bowls.
Savell found the appeal in pottery boiled down to appreciating handmade arts and the connection of the craft to nature.
Empty Bowls was set up in 2015 by Rebecca Flowerday and raises funds for homeless charity DCM.
One of the organisers, Janet Carlyle, said their group had been brainstorming how to help the homeless and Flowerday, a potter herself, knew just the group to turn to.
‘‘She knew from her experience that the pottery community is very generous.’’
She was right. Last year’s Empty Bowls raised around $20,000 by selling approximately 850 bowls through Moore Wilson’s stores in the Wellington region.
In the first two hours, 320 bowls were sold. She hoped this year’s drive was just as successful.
The $25 bowls will be sold at Moore Wilson’s stores from September 2.