Community ties art and food insecurity together in one charity event

In 2012, Laura Kirchner was in Naples, Florida, visiting her parents and she saw it firsthand. "I attended an Empty Bowl event and I came away so impressed with how many people were involved," she said. "I really liked the whole community idea." Empty Bowls has three rules. One, the money raised has to go to organizations that feed the hungry. Two, it has to involve artists. Three, it must be a community project. "I loved all three," she said to me. She loved it so much, Laura and her sister Linda Brown, plus friends and family, started a branch of Empty Bowls locally. They called it "Empty Bowls by the Lake." It's now in its 13th year. Laura lives in Avon Lake and Linda lives in Bay Village. the bowl It is a symbol.It is a part of our everyday life. It carries nourishment and hope. It is generous, and when held in your hands and mine, it offers unity. Diane Marrapese teaches pottery at Lorain County Community College. On the day I visit the Stocker Arts Center Ceramic Studio, she is wearing a T-shirt that says "Earth, Water, Fire and Soul." It's pottery. Clay and water, the kiln's bisque fire that bakes the artist's work and the human soul hoping their individual impression makes a difference. Machaela Clark is a student in the class and she is making a clay bowl to donate. She is 19 years old. She's from Wakeman. "It's nice to do something I enjoy," she said to me as she sat on a stool barely a foot off the ground and worked her clay creation. "And, it's nice to be able to help other people while doing that." Morgan Painter admits she had no idea. "Until I started getting out of my bubble in Avon," she said. "I didn't see it (food insecurity). "You can be so lucky and not even realize it." Morgan will have two bowls ready to donate. She said she'll make four or five by the end of the year. Across the room is a third-year art therapy student. Her name is Ada Davidson. She's making bowls, too. Ada grew up in Avon Lake but she lives in Cleveland now. She has volunteered at food shelters. She is 20. Ada holds her hands up and out as she speaks. "Art makes me happy," she said, "and I love helping other people feel better through my self-expression." A potter's hands Bob Malone is 73 years old. He's wearing a blue smock covered in gray spots that look like freckles left by his hobby's dust. His hands are strong and his fingers are weathered. Bob cut timber for nearly 45 years in a Cleveland lumberyard. "I love playing in the mud," he said to me, referring to the clay of his craft. He loves it so much, he took a ceramic class 51 years ago at Lorain Ommunity College and never left. He likes working with the brown clay because it has speckles in it. Eight years ago, Diane introduced him to Empty Bowls. Bob has two grandchildren. They are 8 and 5. "I think about the kids when I make my bowls," he said. "I can hear a small child somewhere ask their mom for a snack and she doesn't have anything for them. That's what I think about." Corin Balut is from Amherst. Her hands are smooth as they work the clay centered and spinning on a potter's wheel. "It's not as smooth as it looks," she said to me. "It's gritty." She started making bowls for "Empty Bowls by the Lake" when she was in art class at Amherst High School. "It's very eye opening to think about people who have to worry about food every day," she said to me as she looked up for a moment through her purple hair that fell in front of her face. "I had friends, a lot of times they would try to hide it (food insecurity), so I try to help without acknowledging their reality, so they don't feel embarrassed." That approach fits the meaning behind her bowl color of choice. "I like blues," she said. "A blue opal." The meaning of a blue opal is calm. Help is needed now In March of this year, the federal government made significant cuts to our country's food programs. Those cuts have not been restored. "I've been in food banking for 27 years," said Julie Chase-Morefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio, "and I have never seen such a dramatic cut in our food supply in such a short period of time." Julie told me that cuts to the SNAP program are coming next. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food essential to health. "We are seeing high levels of needs but we have less food. Twenty-one percent less food right now," she said. "We've seen cuts at the state level, too. Food has been cut by a third. For decades, food banks received good, wholesome produce that is desperately needed." Everything has changed. "It's hard to recover," Julie said, "but I'm not hopeless. I'm hopeful because our community has always been there to support us through trying times and we will continue to work hard to meet the needs of our neighbors." Programs like Empty Bowls help bring money to food pantries. If you attend the Oct. 18 Empty Bowls By the Lake, you'll pay $25 for a ticket. You'll get to select a bowl for each ticket purchased from the expected 550 bowls that will be made and donated by students from 14 area high schools, four area potters and several students at LCCC. Local restaurants will be on hand for bottomless helpings of soup. One hundred percent of proceeds go directly to area food banks. There is the opportunity to make $13,750 to donate. Second Harvest Food Bank has 82 partner charities in Lorain County and every dollar donated equals six meals. It's personal Judy is 81 years old. She's lived in her house in Elyria for 50 years. She can't keep the house up and keep food in her cupboards and refrigerator though. "I don't eat a whole lot," she said. "I worry about keeping food on my table." Judy relies on the Commodore Cupboard at Lorain County Community College for food. "I don't know what I would do without the foodbank. The potatoes, apples and the meat, I can freeze or cook and freeze. We used to get a lot of fresh vegetables and fruit though," she said. ``We're not getting a lot of produce anymore." Judy adjusts. She has friends on her street who are handy. She couldn't afford a plumber to fix leaky pipes in her house so her neighbor did it for her and she shares what food she has with him and his wife. "I have friends with small children who are having food issues, and I give them stuff. My mom always helped people and I thank God for the people who have stepped in my life to help me." Bring a friend Ann Bort met Laura Kirchner in the fall of 2013. They were both teachers. Laura taught math at Olmsted Falls High School and Ann taught art at Lake Ridge Academy in North Ridgeville. "I was trying to find a community service to do with my ceramic class students," Ann said. "I met Laura and she introduced me to Empty Bowls." "My first one was in the fall of 2013 and we did it outside in Avon Lake next to the pool. It was cold and windy, but it was good. People came and it was successful enough to keep going." They're still together. "It makes your life worthwhile," Ann said of the volunteer work. "If you can do something where you are helping people, do it. And, the joy you see from other people who go to the event. It's so well attended." Contact Ron Jantz at rjantz@chroniclet.com.