Dearborn Students Provide 4,800 Meals to Fight Hunger in Michigan

This article was posted by Daniel Lai. It was reported and written by Jared Scott Tesler.

Students at Long and Howe elementary schools in Dearborn, along with residents at the Henry Ford Village Retirement Community held a fundraiser luncheon on May 10 to benefit the Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan.

As part of the luncheon students and retirees created one-of-a-kind bowls that were provided to attendees.

The event was attended by several local community members, including the president of Gleaners, Dearborn Kiwanis Club members, Dearborn Public Schools administrators and staff, Henry Ford Village residents, students and parents.

As a reminder of global hunger, guests enjoyed a lunch of soup and bread, and took home one of the handcrafted pottery bowls made by the students and seniors. Each Long Elementary School student also received a journal to record their thoughts and experiences related to helping individuals and families in need.

The Empty Bowls project was organized by Long Elementary School art teacher Dail Russell, Howe Elementary School art teacher Kate Blair, and Wendy Sample, president of the Imagine/RENDER Board of Directors and former art coordinator for Dearborn Public Schools.

“The beauty of Empty Bowls is that the people hosting the fundraiser decide where the money goes,” Sample said, stating that each community’s event is completely self-developed.

For the past 20 years, Dearborn Public Schools’ Art Department has coordinated an Empty Bowls fundraising meal. And, for the past several years, it has chosen to support the efforts of Gleaners. This year, participants were able to raise more than $1,600, providing 4,800 meals for community members in need.

“People send (Empty Bowls founder) John Harton information about their events all the time, so we know that meals have taken place in nine other countries outside the United States,” Sample said. “Never did John imagine that this idea would take off worldwide. Millions and millions of dollars have been raised at Empty Bowls meals to help fight hunger.”