BRATTLEBORO — Almost every spring for 18 years, Brattleboro Clayworks has invited the community to help make bowls to feed the hungry. This year's Bowlerama will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2022.
Volunteers will make bowls to donate to the annual Brattleboro Empty Bowls dinner. They won't need any experience or special skills since artist/teachers Bonnie Stearns, Judith Thomas, Andi Matthews, and Alan Steinberg will provide basic instruction and gentle support to help shepherd their creations from start to finish.
Space is limited to 15 participants per session. Sign up in advance for the morning or afternoon sessions: 10 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3 p.m., by calling Brattleboro Clayworks at 802-254-9174. Children ages 10 and older are welcome, accompanied by an adult.
Clayworks donates instruction, clay, glaze, and firing costs. There is no charge to participate; however, financial donations to Groundworks are welcome.
The Empty Bowls Dinner, held in early October at Landmark College, raises funds for Groundworks Collaborative. Potters contribute bowls, local eateries donate home-cooked soups, and musicians share their talents. For a $25 donation, participants will enjoy live music and a delicious meal in a handcrafted bowl they then take home. While many bowls are donated by professional potters, bowls made by so-called “amateurs” - from the French amor (for the love of it) - are often the first to be chosen.
Groundworks Collaborative operates the region's largest and busiest food shelf, a 30-bed shelter for families and individuals experiencing homelessness, the Seasonal Overflow Shelter & Day Shelter, housing case management, and a representative payee service.