SRU's Empty Bowls lunch targets hunger awareness

Slippery Rock University's Office of Community-Engaged Learning is hosting an Empty Bowl lunch, Nov. 3 in the Smith Student Center Ballroom, where people can buy bowls, eat soup and learn about poverty in the area. All proceeds will benefit a local food pantry.

Nov. 2, 2017

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University's Office of Community-Engaged Learning is hosting an Empty Bowls event Nov. 3, in the Smith Student Center Ballroom. During two sessions, noon-1:30 p.m. and 3-6 p.m., students, faculty, staff and community members can purchase bowls, eat soup and bread and learn about local poverty and hunger-fighting organizations. Proceeds will benefit the Feed My Sheep food pantry in Slippery Rock.

"This event is unique because it connects the arts to a social issue, poverty, in a way that people don't normally think of," said Sam Hauser, a senior psychology major from Slippery Rock who is the event's service learning coordinator. "The fact that artists are selling their work for this purpose is pretty amazing."

There will be between 200-300 bowls for sale, either for $5 or $10 depending on the size, each made by members of the SRU Potter's Guild and students during open studio time.

The noon session will be a sit-down lunch where attendees will listen to a speaker talk about poverty in Butler County. The second session will be open door as attendees can come and go anytime during the three-hour session. There will be performances during the late session by various student groups, such as the SRU Flute Ensemble, the SRU Dance Team and the Rock Twirlers.

A hunger awareness program started 25 years ago by Imagine/RENDER, a non-profit organization, was the inspiration for SRU's Empty Bowls initiative.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu