FIGHTING HUNGER
Skidmore students lend hand for Wilton Food Pantry’s 8th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Once again, ceramic students at Skidmore College under the direction of Associate Professor of Art Matthew Wilt will be reaching out to the Saratoga and Wilton communities to combat hunger and food insufficiency in the municipalities surrounding their college with the work of their hands.
The Wilton Food Pantry (WFP) will host the 8th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser on April 14 at the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge 161 on route 9 from 1 to 4 p.m.
The handcrafted bowls are created by Skidmore College Ceramic Arts students and their donation of the bowls enable Empty Bowls to be a huge success every year.
Last year’s event raised $21,716 net for Wilton area families in need.
“We became involved years back when a WFP Board Member came to us to present the invitation to make a difference. We’ve been participating ever since” Wilt said.
During a recent class, Wilt spoke to the students about ce- ramics and the significance of a beautifully crafted piece in today’s disposable world of planned obsolesce and what that such a bowl could mean to someone who is trying to get back on their feet to self sustainability.
“Ceramics is about slowing down. The making of a piece and waiting for it to dry. It’s about surface, form and idea. Students in your generation have grown up in a virtual world where every- one is fast. There is not a quick fix here. The craft of ceramics is so old, and slow; it’s a compelling mystery that has been exciting people for centuries. People are dying for something real without the banality of manufactured objects,” Wilt said.
The Empty Bowls premise is simple.
Guests choose a unique, handcrafted bowl. The bowl is filled with a simple meal of soup and bread. Guests take the bowl home with them as a reminder of those in our community who experience food insecurity.
When asked if they understood that even many working Americans were a paycheck away from making hard choices between paying bills and eating, one student shared that although his family was comfortable, he had a friend he would visit who
only had enough room for him to sleep in the bathtub. “I get what people are dealing with out there.”
Comments from some of the contributing Skidmore student Ceramic Artists:
Tyler Gundrum: Sophmore, Grafton, New York resident, International Studies/Studio Art major:
“I think it’s very telling that we can make these bowls with a sense of selflessness. It’s not about us. It’s about the greater good. I’m excited about going to the event.”
Evan Husencamp: Junior, Los Angeles, California resident, Studio Art/ Metal Smithing major:
“Usually when you sell or give a piece of your work to someone else, you see the person. Here we give our work without seeing the person, but with knowing we’ve made a difference.
“Ceramics are permanent, something you can touch, which is different that sculpture. This is kind of sweet; it’s not just a bowl. It’ll be a bowl until it’s no longer a bowl.”
Parker Heuer: Sophomore, New York City resident, Environmental studies major:
“I’m new to ceramics. It’s exciting that someone else will have my bowl in their home. It’s very special, because it’s there for a more meaningful reason.”
Nora Weber: Junior, Hadley, Massachusetts resident, Sociology major:
“It’s really cool. To have put so much time and effort into each bowl. I think about what having the bowls symbolize - having an empty bowl means- or a full bowl.”
The Empty Bowl event is the WFP’s primary fundraiser. Often on a Wednesday evening or on Saturday morning when WFP is open, there is a long line out the door of local residents who need assistance.
The money and awareness raised at the Empty Bowls event serves to sustain the WFP which also partners with other agencies in the community help those in need.
Below are a few WFP statistics from 2018:
The equivalent of over 40,032 nutritious meals were distributed to neighbors in need in 2018, representing a 15 percent increase from 2017.
A Senior Food Delivery Program has been implemented with the SaratogaWilton Elks Lodge 161, with approximately 40 seniors per month participating.
262 families were served in 2018, including 110 new participating families.
The WFP averages 145 family visits to the pantry every month; 26 percent of patrons are children;17 percent are seniors.
Advance tickets for Empty Bowls are $20 and available at http:// www. wiltonfoodpantry.org. Day of tickets at the door will be $25.