Empty Bowls and Soup: Senior Project Raises Funds for Community Cupboard

Aaron Smith and Jarred Bresnahan chose to complete a senior project that was bigger than themselves. When teacher Paula Bywaters told Smith and Bresnahan about Empty Bowls, and with both students having worked at Genuardi’s and seeing the hardship in the community, they knew this was the project they had to do.

“[We wanted to] help as many families [as possible,” said Bresnahan.

The money was donated to because the students knew it would help the people and families in hardship they saw while working at .

Smith said the art classes made the ceramic bowls, over 100 made in total. During an in-service day for students the students sold bowls to faculty and staff.

They also filmed an episode of Wissahickon Cooks where they made potato soup, chicken and wild rice, chicken noodle, red lentil and Italian wedding soups.

gave the students seed money to purchase the food to make the soups.

The students raised enough money to pay the school back for the clay used to make the bowls as well as for the food bought to make the soups. They also donated $800 to Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard in Ambler.

Nanette Granneman, Executive Director at Mattie Dixon said while donations are flowing in right now and will continue through the end of the year, donations slow during the summer months at the community food cupboard. The money will be used to help make a large food purchase in the beginning of the year to sustain the cupboard through the beginning of the year.

Volunteers said the most needed items for the cupboard are pancake mix and pancake syrup, as well as canned fruit.

Right now, Mattie Dixon is preparing 200 Thanksgiving boxes for families it has served in the past year.