SERVINGbowls – Using our God-given talents to give back to the community.

Isaiah 64:8 - "But now, Oh Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand."

Our school theme for this year is “United in Service with Christ at the Center.” Earlier in the year, I was talking about our theme with some students and how we could use it in one of our art classes. After a lengthy discussion, it became clear that students didn’t really understand how their artistic talents could be used to give back to the community. And thus, a service project was born! I began planning logistics on how I could teach people how to use a pottery wheel, and then put on a fundraiser to raise money for the soup kitchen.

While in college, I participated in a similar project, and used it as a model for ours. Essentially, students and staff members spend two weeks on the pottery wheel — they learn how to “center” clay, how to shape the inside of the bowl, and how to trim the bottom of the bowl. Once they learn how to do this, we fire and glaze them. Our goal is to have at least 120 bowls made before our fundraiser. So far we have 30 bowls made!

Learning how to make pottery is fun, but how do we make the connection to service? Students and staff members will donate time and resources in the form of 10 ceramic bowls to the project. On April 19, during Fine Arts Week, we will be having a Chili-bowl fundraiser night. All participants will bring in a crockpot of chili to serve. Patrons will pay $20 at the door, and receive a handmade ceramic bowl, as well as a homemade dinner of chili. Along with the bowls, there will be other ceramic pieces to purchase — we are doing a raffle for a collaborative vase made by yours truly and Ms. Kylee Heisler!

After the dinner, we will take all of the profits and pay for the clay and glaze used to make our bowls. What is left over will be donated to St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen, a local organization that works to feed the homeless. Through donations of time and talent, I hope to teach our student body how our talents can be used to help those who are less fortunate.

God Bless!

Trevor Campbell,
Art Teacher