Northwest College Associate Professor of Art Elaine DeBuhr was surprised first at how many bowls her students were able to make for the annual Empty Bowls dinner and fundraiser for food pantry Loaves and Fishes.

Tuesday night, nearly an hour before the event was set to start, she was surprised at how many people had already showed up to the first-come, first served dinner. There was such a crowd that she let them inside The Commons early, a chance for the attendees to look out at the long lines of handmade bowls stacked up on the long row of tables.

“Our first gathering to make bowls was in the summer,” she said. “There are about 500 bowls and I was expecting 400-450. The class was excited.”

Making bowls for the dinner is an extracurricular activity, done by students who are invited to take part after attending DeBuhr’s advanced ceramics and wheel throwing classes. The hand thrown bowls go home with attendees who also had the choice of three soups, including DeBuhr’s favorite, potato.

Along with the time and labor of those creating the bowls, the NWC art program provides the clay and glaze materials, and students volunteer to work the event. The soup and bread are provided at cost by Sodexo through the college’s dining services, with the NWC Student Senate supporting the cost of the soup.

“I keep it at $10 so everybody can afford it,” she said. “And all of it goes to Loaves and Fishes.”