DATE: Friday, October 17, 1997              TAG: 9710150137

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY SANDRA J. BARKER, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   53 lines

EMPTY BOWL DINNER TO BENEFIT HUNGRY

Through the ages, the poor have often been pictured extending an empty bowl toward those from whom they wished a handout. The bowl signified a need for food or money to buy food.

Helping to feed those less fortunate by filling empty bowls with food is the focus of the Empty Bowl Dinner being held by the Ceramic Designers Association at the Church of the Holy Family in Virginia Beach on Oct. 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. All proceeds from the event will go to the Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia.

For their $12 ticket, participants get to select one of 500 handmade bowls that have been donated by dozens of potters for the benefit. There are round bowls, square bowls and oblong bowls. Also glazed, painted and etched bowls. Some bowls are wheel-thrown, others are hand built; some are traditional, others are contemporary. All are original works of art.

Once the bowl has been selected, it can be filled with a delicious selection of soups or chili, which have been donated by 10 area restaurants. Bread donated by local bakeries, beverage and a cookie complete the meal.

At home the bowl continues to be a reminder of those who are hungry, organizers said.

Entertainment will be provided by a cello group, a classical guitarist and a folk singer. There will be a $1 raffle for an original piece of pottery donated by Stephen Hill, a noted potter from South Carolina.

A silent auction will be held at 30 minute intervals. Ten pottery pieces, such as vases and sculptures, donated by a number of artists, will be sold to the highest bidder. Proceeds from the auction will go to the Feed the Hungry program of the Church of the Holy Family.

Although the Empty Bowl Dinner is a new concept in Hampton Roads, similar projects have been going on across the country for more than 15 years. Elaine Birk, who found the idea on the Internet and introduced it to the ceramic association, said she read about one in Santa Fe, N.M., that raised about $20,000.

Potters from all over the area and as far away as Florida have donated bowls for the local project. They're being stored with Pat Yoder, co-owner of Clay Escapes Pottery.

Association members hope their first Empty Bowl Dinner will become an annual event in Hampton Roads. Alice Koteen, vice president of the group, said, ``We're trying real hard to make this a nice evening. There's been a good response. I've been amazed that so many people have come forward to help.''

Contact Mary Collier at 467-4299, or Elaine Birk at 496-0036 for tickets. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by SANDRA J. BARKER

Lori Huenerberg, from left, Rita Park and Laurie Hill create ceramic

pieces for the Empty Bowl Dinner, which will benefit the Food Bank.

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