Jacqueline “Jackie” Glum is the Art Teacher at Seekonk High School. In 2022, she had a vision of a project that would help connect Seekonk students to the community and foster a culture of service and caring. She was inspired to create a variation on the “Empty Bowls” theme, customized to appeal to a younger crowd (for example, her event features bowls of ice cream instead of the more traditional bowls of soup.) But, as with all “Empty Bowl” events, the goal was to help fight hunger.
Jackie obtained a grant from the Seekonk Cultural Council to purchase the clay used to make the bowls and involved students from the high school and both elementary schools in forming the clay into bowls. The clay was kiln-dried twice and then the students painted the bowls – a veritable kaleidoscope of colors and patterns. The bowls were sold at the event as a fundraiser for the Doorways food pantry.
The event itself, held at Martin School, had the air of a festival. Student musicians provided live entertainment, and a dozen gallons of ice cream were donated by the Hershey Creamery Company facility in Seekonk. “Celebrity scoopers” doled out generous portions of ice cream – the scoopers represented both the police and fire departments, the school system, town government, and the food pantry. A wonderful time was had by all - and the event raised over $1,400.00 for the Doorways food pantry.
“That money will buy a great deal of food” said Dave Francis of Doorways. “There will be a lot fewer empty bowls in town because of the work of those students – and their teacher.”
Worldwide, Empty Bowls events have raised millions of dollars to help end hunger; this was the fourth such event of its kind in Seekonk. The Doorways community is grateful to Ms. Glum and her students whose creative artwork anchored the event.
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