Buy a bowl, feed 100

HAYS COUNTY FOOD BANK

There are many ways one can support the fight against hunger, but sometimes the fight starts with an empty bowl. Inspired Minds Art Center in Buda hosted their fifth annual Buy a Bowl, Feed 100 People fundraiser for the Hays County Food Bank this past weekend. Participants pay a $35 donation to the food bank and receive a hand made ceramic bowl and a cup of locally made soup in return. The ceramic bowls were created and donated by local artists, including students taking classes at Inspired Minds. The soups were donated by local restaurants, including Taste on Main, Brooklyn’s Down South and Central Market. Cinnamon rolls were donated by Teal House Coffee and Bakery.

“The idea is that every $1 can provide three meals. So with the $35 donation that’s providing 100 meals for the Hays County Food Bank,” said Sinéad Whiteside, Inspired Minds Art Center co-owner and CEO.

Community members from all over central Texas traveled to Buda to participate in this charitable event. With a $35 donation, participants walked the gallery, exploring a wide variety of handmade bowls of all shapes, sizes and colors.

“Every time they eat out of that bowl, they can know that just with the purchase of this one bowl, they have helped feed 100 people,” Whiteside said.

The annual fundraiser happens every January, which aligns with the art center’s anniversary. Instead of a birthday party for themselves, the art center puts their focus and energy into this fundraiser as a way to celebrate the community and to give back. A unique aspect to this fundraiser is that it involves multiple aspects of the community working towards a common goal. Inspired Minds Art Center organizes, promotes and facilitates the event. Local restaurants play a big part as well, donating the soup and food that participants enjoy with their new bowl. Artists work months ahead of the event to create bowls out of clay which they then donate. Inspired Minds offers pottery classes where students can make bowls and donate them to the event, but there has been a huge support from the ceramics community in central Texas.

“We’ve gone out to the Texas Clay Festival, and we’ve had donations from potters there,” Whiteside said. “We also have artists who just make the bowls and don’t glaze them. We have community members, like the School for the Deaf, come in with a group who glazed bowls. Girl Scouts come in and glaze bowls for this event, so really it’s open to anybody. Some of the bowls aren’t even ceramic. They’re glass. We’ve got a glass blower who’s donated some bowls.”

Professional handmade ceramics can have a high value, so Sinéad Whiteside emphasized her appreciation for all artists involved.

“It’s really awesome that they’re donating these since this is their livelihood and works of art. So their generosity is huge, and we couldn’t do it without the artists,” Whiteside said. “Emily Hohertz is our ceramic studio manager and instructor here, and she’s been key in organizing all the ceramic bowls and getting donations from the potters. A lot of the bowls were made and glazed by her also.”

The community effort continued the day of the event with representatives from the Hays County Food bank present to show their support. The art center was flooded with volunteers, helping facilitate payments, organizing the bowl displays and serving soup. Inspired Minds Art Center’s mission is to bring the community together through the arts. They offer art classes for children, teens and adults, including drawing, painting, ceramics, stained glass, theatre and more. They host community art events as well as theatre performances that are open to the public. Find their full schedule on their website at inspiredminds.art or on their instagram @inspiredmindsarts.

Visit the Hays County Food Bank website at haysfoodbank.org where one can find volunteer opportunities as well as food distribution services. They are throwing a Mardi Gras Gala fundraiser in San Marcos on Feb. 22. Tickets can be purchased on their website. The food bank is in the process of renovating their new San Marcos location, which will expand their space and services. Keep up to date on the progress on their instagram @haysfoodbank.