The college campus was recently bowled over.
Not because of an ice storm.
And not because of the gale-force winds that arrived with the month of March.
And not because of recent scholarship, Hall of Fame, and NCAA Division II announcements.
Rather, it was the 15th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, which was held in Franklin Hall on March 16.
Bringing the community together with record attendance, the event donated all proceeds to the Panther Packs Program at Ferrum Elementary, led by Professor Nell Fredericksen.
“We have raised over $13,000,” Frederisksen began. “These funds will ensure that the Panther Pack Program can support all the children at Ferrum Elementary in the program for the full year.”
Turning clay into a popular event is no easy task, and members of the community admire the work of Fredericksen.
Local Ferrum resident Dave Newcombe has been a dedicated attendee from the very beginning.
“Nell is truly the heart and soul of Empty Bowls,” he said.
Having recently grown from a national project to now global, the idea behind Empty Bowls is to fight hunger within the community.
“On the day of the event, patrons select a bowl, have a simple meal,” began Fredericksen, “and then keep the bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world, and those that have nothing to fill them with.”
There was also a silent auction selling pottery and photography.
Making Ferrum unique, however, most of the bowls came from local volunteers, in addition to professional and hobby potters. There were 500 bowls this year.
“About half of the bowls were made by our very own local community members,” she explained. “The other half were made by Ferrum College ceramics students and professional potters from the Blue Ridge Potters Guild and 16 Hands Floyd.”
With all hands-on deck towards the event, the event was a measured success. New attendees said they were astounded with the elegance and talent throughout the Blue Ridge Mountain Room, while others had been coming for 15 years.
In fact, local Martha Puckett and her family remember Ferrum’s first ever Empty Bowls.
“I remember that at first, Nell (Fredericksen) had a hard time getting people to come out,” Puckett said. “Now, the tables are full, and even the bowl-making events leading up to this fill so quick!”
Puckett has helped with Panther Packs for years and admired the beauty and impact of the event.
Newcombe is also a long-time attendee.
“We have a cabinet full of bowls,” Newcombe offered. “I have been here every year since it started.”
For others like community members Yolanda Hunt and Katrina Dinzillo, Empty Bowls was a hidden gem that they discovered the previous year.
“We came for the first time and really enjoyed it last year,” stated Hunt. “There are four of us here from our neighborhood in Westlake. It is so fun choosing a bowl, enjoying the soup, and they even wash it for you before you return home!”
