By Laura Buchanan

On Thursday, March 23, the Hopedale Jr.-Sr. High School was abuzz with the Empty Bowls fundraiser. 

Upon entering the school, patrons were greeted and checked in to purchase a $10 ticket. The ticket could be used as their auction number and allowed patrons to choose a Hopedale student handmade bowl and enjoy an ice cream sundae. 

The main event took place in the cafeteria. 

To the right there were several tables organized with silent auction pottery of specially selected student artwork, including pieces by Sophi Machado and Samantha Burke, as well as pieces donated by the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. 

To the left, many patrons of all ages crowded the tables filled with board games, while others waited in line for a hand-scooped ice cream sundae provided by Laura Fonseca, Ava Romano and Emily Stewart. 

The Memorial Elementary School Student Council aided in educating the community with the impacts of food insecurity in our state via school announcements, and assisted in decorating the cafeteria with cheery streamers, vibrant table cloths, and handmade signs. 

Live music, provided by Cyrus Guest, filled the cafeteria and students dressed as sparkling cutlery (reused from the Beauty and the Beast production) added excitement to the evening.

Empty Bowls is a community based project, used around the world, aimed at making and selling handmade bowls to benefit local food banks. This marked the 3rd year of this fundraiser, under the guidance of Art Teacher Laura Buchanan who has been teaching at Hopedale Jr.-Sr. High School since 2013. 

The previous Empty Bowls were hosted in 2017 and 2018. Buchanan restarted this community initiative with her pottery students this past fall. Students and faculty signed up for time slots after school, to be taught by Hopedale students to throw and decorate pottery. 

After eight months of planning, creating and advertising to the community, Buchanan dubbed this event as a great success, with over 100 patrons, that was not possible without the dedication of our Hopedale students and faculty. 

The Hopedale Empty Bowls Fundraiser surpassed its goal of raising $1,000 for the Milford Daily Bread Food Pantry. Buchanan and the Empty Bowl students want to thank all who supported the event. They are looking forward to making this an annual event and having an even bigger turn out next year! 

Courtesy photos, Mary Margaret Mulroney and Laura Buchanan