For the third year, art students at Pike County High School are participating in the Pike County Salvation Army’s Empty Bowls fundraiser and, therefore, helping to feed the hungry in the Pike County community.

For three days this week, Tuesday through Thursday, students in Carrie Rigdon’s art classes got their hands muddy and all for a good cause.

“Empty Bowls is the annual fundraiser for the local Salvation Army and it’s a way for the art students to give back to the community and also to have an additional art experience,” Rigdon said. “The students usually create two dimensional art but making bowls is an opportunity for them to create 3D art.”

“The students make two bowls, one to keep and the other to donate to the Empty Bowls luncheon in April. The clay and glazes are donated so it gives us another opportunity to make bowls.”

Troy University art education students assist with the Empty Bowls project at PCHS and gain an opportunity to work directly with high school students in a classroom situation.

“In the past two years, we have set aside one day for making bowls for the Salvation Army’s fundraiser,” Rigdon said. “This year, we have taken three days and are making bowls using three different techniques – hump bowls using inner support and outer support and then making and decorating slabs and putting them together to create unique bowls.

“The slab method gives the students an opportunity to use their imaginations and to be creative with their craftsmanship.”

Kim May, Pike County Salvation Army director, said each year the students have participated in the Empty Bowls project their artwork has become more involved and more artistic.

“The bowls this year show a lot of creativity and imagination and very good craftsmanship,” she said. “When the bowls are glazed and fired, they will really take on another quality and be very nice pieces of pottery and artistic creations for our Empty Bowls fundraiser.”

May expressed appreciation to Rigdon, her art students and the Troy University art education students for their assistance.

“It’s good to see young people doing something so important for their community,” May said. “We don’t often think about the fact that there are people in our community who are hungry. We just think that happens in other places but it happens here and much more often than most people think.

“Hopefully, the Empty Bowls project will help these art students be more aware of the needs in our community and to continue to give back to those in need.”

May said there are always requests for food at the Salvation Army Service Center in Troy especially during the winter months when utility bills are historically higher.

“We always have a great need for canned meat products because they are more expensive,” May said. “But all non-perishable items are greatly appreciated.”

All funds raised by at the Empty Bowls Luncheon on April 17 at Bush Memorial Baptist Church in Troy will support the Pike County Salvation Army’s food bank.

For more information, contact the Salvation Army Service Center at 334-808-1069.

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