AMHERST — As a college student in North Carolina in the 1990s, Malea Rhodes made bowls in a ceramics class and donated them as a fundraiser to combat hunger in the community, remembering the people in need she saw in her hometown in the Tar Heel State.
Now, nearly 20 years later, Rhodes, who owns The Celadon Studio, a pottery collective in downtown Northampton, is continuing her advocacy for those less fortunate. Between her and her staff, 40 bowls are being contributed to the ninth annual Empty Bowls Dinner to benefit the Amherst Survival Center.
“As an artist, I don’t have a lot of money to donate,” Rhodes said in an email. “But I do have a skill that can make an item that will generate money, and can feed kids, parents and everyone else in need.”
The community dinner, in which each guest will get a meal and a bowl, runs from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at The Pub, 15 East Pleasant St. Celebrity waiters, including town and regional officials, will serve the meal.
Survival Center Executive Director Mindy Domb said the event provides substantial support for individuals and families struggling and in need of food, clothing, health care and community.
More than 50 ceramic artists, which include other professionals as well as high school students, have made and donated bowls.
The menu includes 16 varieties of soups from a dozen area restaurants, including The Black Sheep, Fratelli’s, Judie’s, Osteria Vespa, The Pub and The Works, all in Amherst, and the Smithsonian Cafe and Chowder House in Northampton, and Whole Foods Market in Hadley.
Tickets are $40 and available online at www.amherstsurvival.org/2017emptybowls or in person at A.J. Hastings, 45 South Pleasant St., and at The Pub
The event also includes a raffle for a chance to win a bowl made by contemporary glass artist Josh Simpson.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
