CLC artists team up to sell ceramic bowls to raise money for food bank

Members of the College of Lake County's Community Clay Association, consisting of faculty and students, created more than 1,000 bowls for CLC's seventh annual "Empty Bowls" event Tuesday.

For $15, event attendees could purchase a handmade ceramic bowl and receive a serving of chili and cornbread. The CLC Hospitality and Culinary Management program prepared the food for the event.

"It's just fabulous, they're so unique and so different, it's compelling, and I now have a collection of unique bowls," said Charlotte Raasch of Grayslake, who purchased six bowls.

Ben Bates, a CLC ceramics instructor, said the bowls are all handmade by ceramic artists and normally sell for $30 to $50 each.

"So it's a pretty good deal," Bates said. "To date, we've raised $41,500 over the six years."

All of the profits from the "Empty Bowls" event are donated to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.