MEEKER | Meeker High School will host its annual Empty Bowls fundraiser on Tuesday, Jan. 13, during the girls’ and boys’ basketball games, with proceeds benefiting the Meals on Wheels program through Pioneers Medical Center.
The event brings together students, staff and community members in a student-led effort to support local residents facing food insecurity. Now a familiar tradition at MHS, the fundraiser transforms the school lobby into a gathering space where attendees can purchase handmade ceramic bowls and enjoy a meal while contributing to a local cause. The cost of a bowl and meal is $20, with cash, check, and Venmo accepted.
Approximately 80 art students are participating this year, creating about 130 handmade stoneware bowls and mugs under the guidance of art teacher Ben Quinn. Students used both hand-building techniques, including coil and slab methods, and potter’s wheels to craft the pieces, which were fired to Cone 6 at 2,250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Quinn said the project teaches students more than just technical ceramic skills.
“Students not only learn how to physically make a ceramic vessel, but they also learn about the importance of giving back to a community that does so much to support us,” Quinn said.
The fundraiser is a collaborative effort between the MHS art department and the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), led by FCCLA adviser Brenda Hummel. While art students focus on creating the bowls, FCCLA and culinary students manage event logistics, including preparing and serving soup, setting up the space and interacting with donors.
Hummel said the event serves as a bridge between the school and the community.
“At its core, this event connects students with their neighbors and shows how their skills can make a real difference right now,” she said.
Hummel added that hosting the fundraiser during home basketball games helps ensure strong community participation, and that all proceeds remain local, directly supporting Meals on Wheels through Pioneers Medical Center.
Since its start, the Empty Bowls fundraiser at MHS has grown into a multi-department collaboration, allowing for increased production and a wide variety of bowl styles. Students of all experience levels contribute, resulting in a diverse selection of handmade pieces for community members to choose from.
One of the most meaningful moments each year, Hummel said, is watching attendees carefully select a bowl and seeing the pride students feel when their work is chosen.
Organizers said the fundraiser not only provides vital support for Meals on Wheels, but also helps students develop empathy, leadership and a deeper connection to their community.
The Empty Bowls event is more than just a fundraiser; it’s an opportunity for students and the community to come together, share a meal, and make a tangible difference. Each bowl represents both creativity and compassion, and the event highlights how student efforts can have a meaningful impact on the people of Meeker.
Senior Braydin Raley holds up a handmade bowl she created for the Empty Bowls fundraiser at Meeker High School on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The cost of a bowl and meal is $20, with cash, check and Venmo accepted.