From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, North Star Academy in Marquette will host Empty Bowls, an event to raise awareness of hunger and poverty in the community and throughout the world.

North Star students, from elementary to high school, have been creating bowls for the event.

With a $10 donation, those attending will receive soup and a handmade bowl to take home.

Proceeds will go to Marquette homeless shelter Room at the Inn and Operation Aoy, which helps send money to less fortunate children in the home village in Thailand of the owner of Rice Paddy.

“The students were able to vote on organizations they could donate to,” said senior art education major Jen Clement, who is in charge of the art portion of the project. “It’s a great way for the students to realize they can create and donate artwork.”

Clement said gaining support from the community made Empty Bowls possible this year, as it has in several past years.

Northern Michigan University donated over 250 pounds of clay and let North Star Academy use its kilns to fire the bowls.

“Using our resources and making connections has been awesome,” Clement said. “Feeling the local and community support has been great, as well as working with different people and students to get them involved with a greater mission.”

Clement said she encourages anyone to come to Empty Bowls, and there will be over 200 bowls to choose from and take home as a reminder that there are always people facing hunger.

“It’s going to be a great event,” Clement said. “There will be a wide variety and a lot of different things to choose from. The students got really creative in creating their bowls.”

The students have also made their own paper and designed bowls out of it, and it is never too late to get involved, Clement said.

Empty Bowls will be held at North Star Academy at 3030 Wright St. in Marquette. For more information about the event, email Jen Clement at [email protected] or call (906) 226-0156, ext. 14.