Woodland Elementary West Raising Awareness of Hunger, the Arts With Community Effort on April 2

Local potters, businesses and schools are coming together from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2 at the Woodland Elementary West School cafeteria for the 6th Annual Empty Bowls food drive and fundraiser to benefit the Warren Township Food Pantry.

Empty Bowls is an international grassroots 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 have worked together to create hundreds of ceramic bowls to sell on April 2 for a donation to benefit the Warren Township Food Pantry.

"We are so fortunate to host an event that makes the arts relevant to the children and the broader community while increasing awareness and empathy for struggling individuals in our own community," said Marion Beram, a Woodland Elementary West art teacher who spearheads the effort.

In exchange for a non-perishable food donation, families are invited to participate in a light dinner of soup and bread donated by Arbor Management, Woodland's food service provider, and Mariano's. Each child participant will get a bag of books donated by Half Price Books.

Last year, nearly 450 people attended the event at Woodland Elementary West which resulted in the Warren Township Food Pantry receiving $2,700 as well as enough food to fill a school bus.

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

For additional information, please contact Marion Beram at (847) 984-8900.