For Andrew Heisey, professor of art, it’s important to have a reminder of the struggles of the community around the university—like poverty and hunger.

“It’s so easy to forget when our bellies are full,” said Heisey. Heisey invested much of his time this past weekend into helping students put on Waynesburg University’s 4th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser Sunday, April 2.

The fundraiser took place at the Readiness Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those who attended were able buy tickets that gave them unlimited soup, bread, dessert and drinks. In addition, they could take home a handcrafted and glazed bowl. The proceeds raised by the tickets went to the Weekend Food Program through the Community Foundation of Greene County.

The fundraiser was started by Bonner Scholar students four years ago to raise money for food and meals for students in five different nearby school districts, and the communities have continued to benefit from this fundraiser each succeeding year.

Heisey said that people often forget about the poverty others are struggling with because they have not gone through it themselves.

“There are so many kids out there who are not fed well, and it’s so hard for me to understand because I’ve never experienced that,” said Heisey.

The 80 to 100 bowls sold at the event were handcrafted by Waynesburg University students on Friday night with help and direction from Heisey. The empty bowls serve to remind people of those who are living in poverty, and it gives them a chance to make a difference in those lives, said Heisey.

“That bowl is symbolic. It’s symbolic of the empty bowls that kids have,” said Heisey.

Adrienne Tharp, coordinator for the Bonner Program, said Bonner Scholars and other students really committed their time and energy to making a difference in others’ lives through this event, as they started planning for the fundraiser as far back as the Fall semester.

According to Tharp, the Bonner Students also made a difference in their own lives through planning the event. Not only did they learn real-world skills from the preparation, but they also learned more about the community.

“Students go to school here but I think often you are in the campus bubble, so being able to do these events for the community and really get to know Waynesburg and the county – I think that makes students feel a part of this community.”

Many businesses in the community also contributed to the event on Sunday. Standard Ceramics donated clay and Aladdin Food Service and Hot Rod’s donated soups and other food for the fundraiser.

Tharp believes the fundraiser was also an eye-opening event for the students who were not involved in planning, as well as community members in Waynesburg.

“Students and also members of the community really learn about the impact of this event and the number of students throughout the county that do benefit from this and that there is a need for food and security,” said Tharp.