Even though this is the first year Pascack Hills has participated in Empty Bowls, an international effort that helps raise awareness for world hunger and raise money to support those in need, Mrs. White and the other National Honor Society (NHS) members hope that this project will become an annual fundraiser.
The Imagine Render Group created Empty Bowls wherein each bowl is handcrafted and then purchasers are asked to buy soup and bread along with the bowl.
Mrs. White learned about Empty Bowls when a nearby high school sponsored a similar event. In addition, she indicated that Mrs. Garretson’s husband, who is also an art teacher, had sponsored the event at his school. When she brought this idea to the honor society last year, “they were very enthusiastic.”
This endeavor took a lot of careful work and planning for a successful execution. Amanda Tosi, NHS president, along with Mrs. White, created a Google doc for each member of NHS to sign up for a different aspect of this project.
Furthermore, they formed a special committee to lead the entire event. Susan Janowsky and Emma Sheinbaum both dealt with advertising.
Two other seniors, Dylan Herman and Brian Silver, created a website all about the project and its current progress.
Jackie Tsontakis used her creativity to make flyers promoting the cause and order forms for the selling of the empty bowls.
Mrs. Wagner, a teacher here at Pascack Hills, contributed by having her cooking classes chop vegetables for the soup.
Jennifer Wankmuller and Christina Masciale worked hard to decorate the library display case to further promote the cause.
Amanda Tosi, Lisa Caspari, Mila Lam, and Mrs. White worked together to prepare the soup.
Aside from the National Honor Society, many other faculty members and students assisted. Mr. Dinkey, Mrs. Garretson, and many of their art students worked diligently with ceramics to create beautiful, handcrafted bowls for the soup.
Mr. deMarrais used the power of social networking by spreading the word to his Twitter followers.
Mrs. Heytink, along with the members of the PFA, used the school website, Thursday newsletter, and electronic bulletin board to their advantage to further promote the project.
Each handcrafted bowl will be empty “to symbolize the fact that so many people around the world go hungry every day,” says Mrs. White.
The ordering began on December 2nd. For the small cost of $15, people were able to receive a handmade bowl, bread, and 16 oz. of homemade soup.
According to Mrs. White, “The NHS has a very specific goal” for the funds raised from this project. If enough money is collected, Pascack Hills can host a packaging event with supplies given to the school by Stop Hunger Now.
A hands-on program that fights hunger, Stop Hunger Now is an organization that prepares meals that consist of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, vitamins and minerals, which are then sent to third world countries that support the programs there.
Mrs. White and the National Honor Society students “feel strongly about becoming actively involved in bettering the lives of others around the world,” so they are pleased with the success of this project and the feedback from the Pascack Hills community.
Amanda Tosi, President of the NHS, states, “Though I’m proud of what the National Honor Society accomplished with this project, it was truly the support from the entire Pascack Hills community—especially our talented arts students—that made the fundraiser a success. Through the Empty Bowls Project, we raised $1,100 for Stop Hunger Now, an organization that feeds people in poverty-stricken regions around the world.”
With this amount in mind, the NHS plans to continue towards a goal of $2,500 for next year when they continue the Empty Bowls Project.
