Key Club project to raise awareness about hunger

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Barbara Parkins, Greater Johnstown School District superintendent, watches junior Deanna Boerstler make a bowl that will be used in the Key Club’s Empty Bowl dinner. Submitted Photo/Roger Kerekes

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March 14, 2010

By KELLY URBAN The Tribune-Democrat Sun Mar 14, 2010, 10:47 PM EDT

Hunger and homelessness are not issues that only face bigger cities, in fact the problem exists right here in our own backyards.

It’s that message Greater Johnstown High School Key Club students hope to convey when they host the Empty Bowl concept dinner May 5 at the Heritage Discovery Center to raise awareness of the problems facing our community.

The simple dinner will consist of soup and bread and be served in clay bowls created by district art students.

Key Club adviser Melena Pavich said the school applied for a grant through Learn and Serve America – a national organization dedicated to helping students make meaningful contributions to their community – to assist them in creating a service project.

“I’ve attended dinners like this in the past in other areas and I thought it would be nice to do one here in our hometown,” Pavich said. “Participants will select a hand-crafted bowl and at the end of the dinner they can take the bowl home as a constant reminder that there are empty bowls elsewhere because people don’t have enough food.”

Cindy Maloy, the high school’s art teacher and a Key Club adviser, said students in all district buildings have been busy making the bowls and they hope to have roughly 500 completed in time for the dinner.

Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for adults and $100 for tables of eight.

“We’ve sold tickets for about 400 bowls, so we think this will have a big impact on the community,” Maloy said. “A lot of work has gone into this and I hope the students see these bowls as more than just a bowl, but as a way to make a real difference.”

In addition to the dinner, multicultural entertainment will be provided by local musical groups and student organizations.

All proceeds will go to the Women’s Help Center, the Salvation Army and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

“The agencies are excited about this project and we felt these were the three organizations that work closely with hunger and homelessness issues in our area,” Pavich said.

Deanna Boerstler, 16, called the project “neat” and said an event like this will have an impact on people and hopefully change their views on hunger and homelessness.

“You don’t think about people here not having supper, but once students go to the dinner I think they’ll want to help to make a change,” the junior said. “I never thought about doing something like this, but it’s an idea to take on to college and start there.”

She wasn’t sure how many bowls she’s made, but said any free time she gets she’s sitting at the pottery wheel making more.

“I just want to help and be a part of it,” Deanna said.

Pavich added that raising money for the cause is important, but it’s more important to raise awareness.

“Seven years ago I attended one of these dinners and I still have the bowl on my table. It reminds me daily that I need to do more because this issue is so important,” she said.

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