John Cooper's Empty Bowls Event continues hunger relief support

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - The John Cooper School National Art Honor Society (NAHS) will begin its second decade of raising funds to help fight hunger in our community by sponsoring the 11th Annual Empty Bowls Project on Saturday, February 20. The 2016 Empty Bowls event will be held in Cooper's Student Center from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and online reservations are encouraged, but not required. The public is invited to this annual event that has helped to raise over $65,000 for hunger relief in our community over the past 10 years. Reservations are $10 and can be secured by going to https://johncooper.myschoolapp.com/podium/default.aspx?t=36644&rid=11396.

Handmade bowls, created by Cooper students in grades PK through 12, as well as faculty, staff, parents and local artists, will be available. A simple meal of soup, bread and water contributed by local restaurants and businesses, will be served for the admission price. "The handmade bowls come in all shapes and sizes and are for people to take home as a reminder of the fight against hunger," said senior Laura Meyer, who is the NAHS Service Chair.

Faculty advisors Amy Dietrich and Emily Taylor are adding a new twist to the silent auction portion of the event. "We are taking bowl making in new directions: from 3-D printed bowls, ceramic cups, and more traditional bowls (with a few bells and whistles) to water color paintings and photographs of bowls at various states of emptiness," Taylor said. "With such diversity, visitors will be sure to leave with a unique work of art, whether from entry donation and/or the silent auction."

Proceeds from Empty Bowls have again been designated for the Interfaith Food Pantry, with a portion earmarked for the Imagine Render Group that initiated the program worldwide (. Interfaith's President and CEO Ann Snyder, says the Interfaith Food Pantry, a beneficiary for the past seven years, is grateful for the support and says the outreach truly makes a difference in the lives of many.

More information and a link to the online reservation is posted on the Cooper website at www.johncooper.org. NAHS students are currently seeking community involvement in the event, including donations of soup, bread and water. Local artists are also encouraged to donate to the silent auction. For more information email visualarts@johncooper.org