BEATRICE – It’s no “bowl” that the SCC Art Department is contributing to something they can be proud of their time and artful creations will help feed over 63 Beatrice students in need.
The Empty Bowl Luncheon will be held in Beatrice at Classic’s Restaurant on Wednesday, March 20, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Tickets for the luncheon are $25 each, which includes a hand crafted, one-of-a-kind pottery bowl and the food that it will be filled with. All proceeds go to benefit the Beatrice Backpack Program.
Patty Kaufman, co-coordinator of the program, explained that all money goes straight to the families in need; there is no overhead, no paid positions, and all of the items for the event are donated.
“The truth is that we do have children right here in our community that go hungry on a regular basis,” says Kaufman. “The most rewarding part of running this program is knowing that we are helping in a small way.”
The SCC Art Department alone is supplying 50 bowls to the event. Nancy Hagler-Vujovic, art instructor at SCC Beatrice, creates bowls herself and helps students with the creation and glazing process.
Hagler-Vujovic has been involved for all three years that SCC Beatrice has participated; the event itself is going on five years now according to Kaufman.
The program’s first year filled 25 backpacks, and it has now almost tripled in size. The program provides many needy families in Beatrice with food every Friday of the school year.
Kaufman described the growth of the program as go- ing beyond the families served but also the attendance from people in and around the Beatrice community; last year there were nearly 300 guests.
The program itself was started as a spin-off of an event the Lincoln Food Bank holds each year along with other events held around the nation.
When asked why she felt this event was important Hagler-Vujovic responded, “It is important to maintain ties with the community and contribute to its welfare.”
BHS art students, Ervin Dixon of Cedar Creek Pottery, Patrick McKinney of Flowing Stone Pottery and Down Under Pottery (Lincoln) have crafted the other bowls for the event. Bowls are on display and can be handpicked on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Tickets for the event can be purchased in Beatrice at Pinnacle and Security First Banks or the Beatrice Chamber of Commerce.