Pharr Elementary's 'Empty Bowls' Program Survives

Grayson Technical School is stepping up to the plate to help keep a community service tradition alive at in Snellville.

Pharr Elementary's Empty Bowls Dinner project was in danger of falling away when a local grocery store said it could no longer donate food at cost for the project, according to Jennifer Fero, an assistant principal at Grayson Tech.

Then Chef Matt Neal, the new culinary arts teacher at Grayson Tech, offered the support of his students. With their help, Pharr Elementary students would be able to carry on the service-learning project to help families in need. 

"Students create a ceramic bowl in art class that is later used to host a dinner where a meal of soup and bread is served in exchange for a suggested donation,” Fero said. “Donations then go to a food bank or Co-op to help fight hunger in your community."

As a reminder of those less fortunate, those with "empty bowls," people who attend the meal are asked to take a ceramic bowl with them as they leave, Fero said. The children, she added, learn a very valuable lesson of using their talents to help others less fortunate than them.

“This is a nationwide project that schools all over the country participate in and at Pharr they have had huge success with it over the past several years,” said Fero, adding that not being able to get the food at cost this year, however, put the project in jeopardy.

But, the generosity of Grayson Tech students means that enough soup will be made to feed 600 people this week.

“There will be enough soup for all who walk through the door on Nov. 17, the Thursday before Thanksgiving break,” Fero said.

The teachers involved in the Empty Bowls Dinner this year are Darika Stevens, art teacher at Pharr Elementary School, and Matt Neal, chef and culinary arts instructor at Grayson Tech, which is on the Grayson High School campus.