03.13.2009
MU COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS HOSTS BOWL-A-THON
Local celebrities and public relations students create bowls
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A ball of clay, creativity and the willingness to get a little dirty were the only requirements needed for the Empty Bowls campaigns “bowl-a-thon.”
The Marshall University Keramos Pottery Guild ceramics students in the Department of Art and Design in the College of Fine Arts invited local celebrities and public relations students from the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications to participate in the making of bowls Friday from 9 a.m. until noon.
“It’s just another aspect of the event that allows people to get involved,” said Brooke Ash, Huntington Area Food Bank (HAFB) public relations coordinator. “It not only allows the students working on the event to put some sweat into the other side of the campaign, but it also allows Marshall professors, Marshall coaches and the media to see the craft behind Empty Bowls.”
Marshall University head football coach Mark Snyder, Marshall University associate women’s basketball coach Roxanne White and Marshall’s mascot Marco were among the local celebrities from the athletics department who took part in the “bowl-a-thon.”
“We always talk to young people about giving back to the community,” Snyder said. “We take advantage of every opportunity we can to help out.”
“The community is so supportive of us,” White said. “It’s nice to give back, especially now in the difficult times.”
Marshall University associate professor of broadcast journalism Dan Hollis was another celebrity among the potters.
“It’s always good to help,” Hollis said. “I’ve supported Empty Bowls since it first started, so it’s nice to be a part of the making of the bowls.”
The “bowl-a-thon” is an enjoyable way to show support for the HAFB and get involved with fighting hunger. Jon Rickey, executive director of the HAFB, enjoys listening to the students’ excitement about Empty Bowls as they produce bowls to feed the hungry.
“The ‘bowl-a-thon’ brings enthusiasm to the Empty Bowls event,” said Earline Allen, Marshall art and ceramics professor. “Creating the bowls is a new experience for everyone, and it’s wonderful to see them reacting to the process. We’re really pleased about the support from the pottery students and are happy to see so many PR students helping out.”
Public relations students were eager to make bowls to get a better feel for the art aspect of the campaign.
“We got to see the hard work the ceramics students put into the campaign,” said Kacie Chambers, senior public relations major and Empty Bowls Campaign Representative. “I’m very appreciative of their dedication in helping us make the event a success.”
“It’s interesting to see the creativity everyone puts into the bowls” said Summer Patrick, freshman “bowl-a-thon” volunteer planning to minor in ceramics. “I was really surprised at how good all their bowls turned out.”
The Empty Bowls event will be April 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1015 Fifth Ave., Huntington, W.Va. Each person who gives a $12 donation receives a lunch of soup, bread, Pepsi, and a handcrafted ceramic bowl, to serve as a continued reminder of the empty bowls in our community and the ongoing hunger problem all over the world.
For more information about the HAFB, call Brooke Ash at (304) 523-6029 or e-mail hafbmail@hafb.org. For more information about the Empty Bowls event, call Campaign Director Meagan Sellards at (304) 412-5900 or e-mail emptybowls@marshall.edu. Erica Rife, the media representative, can be reached at (304) 360-3394, e-mail emptybowls@marshall.edu or visit www.marshall.edu/SOJMC.
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The Huntington Area Food Bank, Inc., is a private, nonprofit, charitable organization affiliated with Feeding America, the largest hunger relief agency in the United States. The HAFB is the hub in a network of food donors and more than 290 agencies that serve hungry people in West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and southeastern Ohio. The HAFB assists food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, senior citizens programs, youth programs and residential programs that directly serve the needs of the hungry. The HAFB member agencies are located in 17 counties throughout the Tri-State area. All member agencies served by the HAFB are private and nonprofit. For more information, please visit www.hafb.org.