Full hearts make empty bowls at Henry Izatt School

Grade 5 students at Henry G. Izatt School may have been making empty bowls for charity but they had hearts full of enthusiasm.

Henry G. Izatt School students were busy creating clay bowls on Jan. 10 as a part of their learning curve to help the less fortunate.

“It’s a great project,” said art teacher Melanie Pestaluky, who teaches the students how to make the clay bowls and walks the students through the design and firing processes.

The Empty Bowls program, which was created by an art teacher in Michigan, provides opportunity for the students to learn about poverty and hunger issues and then come together to host a simple meal in which the students’ parents are invited to attend, eat, and purchase their child’s bowl for $10.

The proceeds from the sale of the bowls goes to the local food bank, in this case, Winnipeg Harvest.

The hope of the international program is for the empty bowls to go home and be placed in a space of honour in each home and left empty to remind people that there are those who live without enough, said Lee Newton, founder at Winnipeg Harvest.

“We’re lucky to be the beneficiary,” said Newton, noting there are currently 39,000 Winnipeggers accessing Winnipeg Harvest for help to provide food to their families.

Half of the 39,000 people are children.

“So really this program is about children helping children and it’s very empowering. It gives kids the chance to see they can help others,” said Newton.

In its third year at the Whyte Ridge area school, teachers like Pestaluky are thankful for Pembina Trails School Divison art consultant Cameron Cross’ discovery of the Empty Bowls program while he was at a professional development conference in the United States three years ago.

Cross said in some capacity all city school divisions are participating in the program but not all schools have developed their participation to Henry G. Izatt’s level.

“I’m very interested in social justice issues. When I heard about this program I thought it would be something our schools would want to be a part of. It’s an artistic and practical way to help...and it’s catching on,” said Cross.