Rosie Riordan, Arts Resource Specialist with Shawnee Mission School District, said:

In November of 2005 I was surprised with grant money from the Education Foundation prize patrol to help fund a project I had become intrigued with called, “Empty Bowls.” It’s a way to help feed the poor and homeless, as well as to draw attention to the need in our own community.  Panera Bread and our Visual Arts department worked together for two years now to put on “Empty Bowls.”  We want this to be an annual event.

Students from 34 schools across Shawnee Mission School District created ceramic bowls that were given to those who came to the “Empty Bowls” event, held on the evening of February 5, 2007 at Shawnee Mission West High School.  Tickets sold for $15 a person.

The evening included an art show and a silent celebrity bowl auction. Riordan said:

On Wednesday, January 24, we had a bowl making session at Shawnee Mission North for the celebrities that Panera Bread worked to bring in. Their creations were sold at the “Empty Bowls” event. Among the celebrities were Darci Blake from KUDL, Dick Wilson from KCMO FM, Rick Tamblyn from JACK FM, Sondra Olivas from Channel 5, Kerry Zavagnin from the Kansas City Wizards, and Graham Heaven, our Panera Bread representative. We all had such a great time.

To read more about the bowl making session please click here.

All the food, drinks, and cookies for dinner was donated by Panera Bread and music was provided by Overland Express, the Shawnee Mission West High School jazz band. Over $10,000 was raised for City Union Mission.

Dennis Chapman, Associate Executive Director of Development, was on hand to receive the check. He said:

I want to thank all the students, their teachers, the celebrities, Panera Bread, and all who participated in making this project so successful. Through your efforts more people in our community are now aware of the needs of the poor and homeless in Kansas City. And the ceramic bowls, timeless works of art that they are, serve as reminders of the less fortunate among us.

If you would like more information about drives and benefits please click here, or for special events please click here.