Woodland fundraiser brings in food for Warren Township Pantry

Local potters, businesses and schools came together April 4 at the Woodland Elementary West School cafeteria for the fourth annual Empty Bowls food drive and fundraiser to benefit the Warren Township Food Pantry.

Empty Bowls is an international, grass-roots organization created to fight hunger and raise hunger awareness in local communities.

Elementary West third-grade students crafted pots of clay as a reminder of homes with empty bowls in their communities, and local potters from College of Lake County, Warren Township High School, and Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Stirling Hall Art Center worked together to create ceramic bowls to sell for a donation to benefit the Warren Township Food Pantry.

Ninety bowls came from the CLC ceramics department, 150 bowls came from Sterling Art Center, and 75 bowls came from Warren High School. In all, $2,000 was raised.

"Third-grade students made pinch pots. They made bowls in order to understand the symbolism of Empty Bowls," said art teacher Marion Beram. "We talk about hunger in our community. A lot of these children are coming from food insecure homes themselves. So, they are made aware that hunger is right here in Gurnee and Gages Lake."

In exchange for a nonperishable food donation, families were invited to participate in a light dinner of soup and bread donated by Arbor Management, the Woodland food service provider, and Panera Bread.

The cafeteria was packed with families as they examined pots that filled rows of tables and ate bowls of soup that were served by parent volunteers.

"I think this is great. It teaches the kids what our homeless people go through and how it isn't easy to get meals sometimes," said Maria Vinas as she ate soup with her two sons, Ryan and Adam.

"The boys made pots, too. They were so excited to be so creative and make little pots to bring home."

Official sponsors of the event were Lake Forest Parks and Recreation, Stirling Hall Art Center, College of Lake County, Warren Township High School, Woodland PTA, Panera, Sam's Club, Target and Mariano's.