About Bonds

College, community come together for hunger benefit

Date 3/23/2006 12:00 AM | Topic: News

Last Sunday, Mar. 19, the Center for the Arts was bustling with energetic, compassionate people and filled with the aroma of delicious soups and bread, all for a community effort to help reduce local and world hunger.

Dale Raddatz, associate professor of art, and George Lowe, Luther alumnus and full-time potter, organized the Empty Bowls Hunger Project.

"This event was about sharing a day together and celebrating the fact that we're able to help," said Raddatz. "I am thankful for people's generosity."

The event took place in the CFA from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.


Five hundred bowls were made by Luther College alumni potters.

"The potters jumped on the idea," said Raddatz. "They're not wealthy, but they're good people who were excited to help out."

Students in Luther's Intermediate Claywork class made about 110 bowls.

For a $20 donation attendees received a bowl made by professional potters, a meal of soup catered by local restaurants and bread baked by Luther students and volunteers, all as a reminder of the world's hunger problem.

Kate Velazquez ('07) was glad she came to the event.

"I think it's a great cause," she said. "The coolest part was getting to pick my own bowl."

The Empty Bowls Hunger Project is a nationwide event that takes place in different cities across the country.

Planning for the event began this fall after Lowe approached Raddatz with the idea. After talking with Ann Darling, a Luther alumna who organizes a successful Empty Bowls Hunger Project event each year in Florida, Raddatz and Lowe decided to get the community and Luther involved.

Once President Torgerson approved the event, restaurants were contacted and asked to donate soup.

Luther College Catering, Dayton House, Noel Baked Goods, T-Bock's, La Rana Bistro, Oneota Co-op, Sabor Latino, Americana Grill, Hart's Tea and Tarts and the First Lutheran Food Pantry Social Concerns Committee provided soup.

Attendees had their pick from an assortment of soups ranging from butternut squash and apple, Cuban black bean, posoli, Cajun chicken and sausage gumbo, roasted pepper and lime, cream of leek and potato, carrot coriander and chicken and wild rice.

Bread was provided by Hotel Winnishiek, Dayton House, Luther's Inter-Greek Council, Barbara Horns of Decorah, Jo Berg Iverson of Decorah and Sarah Nowack of Fort Atkinson, Iowa.

Amy Fuer of the Yellow Bird Art quilt shop in Lansing, Iowa made aprons for the servers.

Musical entertainment was also part of the event. Tom Bourcier, instructor of music, and Andrew McNamara ('06) played jazz and blues on the piano.

Students from the Movement Fundamentals III class provided an improvisational performance that added another element to the experience.

Becky Albrecht ('07) attended and enjoyed the event.


"The bread and soup are good, it's definitely worth $20," she said. "But I wish they would have advertised more to students."

The funds from the event will go to the food banks of Decorah Lutheran Church, First Lutheran Church and Winnishiek County Services. Funds will also be sent to world hunger organizations.

Raddatz discussed the importance of helping out the hungry.

"Millions of people qualify for food help in this culture," he said. "They're in that situation because they've fallen into hard times, and we need to help them get back on their feet."

Lowe also expressed his desire to help those in need.

"It's about justice and basic rights, and it has to start somewhere," he said. "The more we become aware, the more people are willing to help."

"This is a wonderful, generous community, and it's a good cause," said Lowe. "This event is a good way to show Decorah cares."

Lowe believes the event helps the hungry in a valuable and constructive way. By providing them with food instead of money, they are able to participate in their own benefits.

The funds raised will offer hope, self-confidence and better food and assistance to those in need.

The event was a success, raising $8,000. Starting with 500 bowls and 50 gallons of soup, only 50 bowls and two gallons of soup remained after the event.

Raddatz was thrilled with the outcome and believed it made a positive statement.

"I think it sends out a strong message that this community composed of Decorah businesses, residents and the college are very concerned about hunger issues and are very generous in expressing it," said Raddatz.

Raddatz and Lowe hope to organize the event next year with a goal of 1000 bowls.

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Kassie Petermann

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