Empty bowls to SERVE

"Potters are earthly people. They have roots in their community. They want to give back," said Fran Newquist, co-owner of Manassas Clay.

After launching Manassas Clay in 1996, Newquist and her business partner, Jane Cullum, wanted to give back to the community and approached Securing Emergency Resources Through Volunteer Efforts Inc. to sponsor an Empty Bowls benefit.

They envisioned an evening where the community would select a hand-thrown bowl and have dinner together. Local restaurants would donate food for the event and all proceeds would go to SERVE to fight hunger in the community.

It has worked out, and SERVE and Manassas Clay have been working together since early 2000 to sponsor this annual event.

Manassas Clay students, studio potters and others in the clay community meet several evenings throughout the summer to make bowls on the pottery wheel or by hand building. The bowls made on the pottery wheel by hand are from clay donated by Tin Barn Pottery.

Once the clay has air dried, the bowls are trimmed and fired to harden the clay. Then they are glazed and fired again for a durable, food-safe product.

"It is an exciting process," said Newquist. "There is always interaction of the clay and glaze during the firing. The results can be breath-taking."

Manassas Clay is a working pottery studio, gallery and classroom.

Last year, Manassas Clay helped SERVE raise $6,648 by filling their "Empty Bowls." The goal this year is to increase that figure with the event to be at "The Rock," (old Marsteller School) now the Manassas Baptist Church, on Oct. 23 from 4 to 8 p.m.

Cullum will be at the event demonstrating the throwing process on her pottery wheel. There will also be entertainment and food to fill the bowl.

Admission is $15 for ages 11 and older, and $10 for 10 and younger.

There will also be music, raffles and face painting to add to the fun-filled evening for the entire family.

SERVE provides temporary emergency shelter for 60 homeless families and individuals nightly, operates transitional housing programs in Manassas and provides emergency food and financial assistance to needy residents in the area.

Last year, SERVE's Food Distribution Center provided more than $1.2 million worth of donated food to an average of 700 households monthly.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.