Jade Lane, junior art education major from Southlake, decorates pottery during ceramics class Feb. 1. Students will throw hundreds of bowls to be sold at Empty Bowls, an event where individuals may purchase a bowl and eat soup to help fight world hunger.

Clean dishes and empty pockets will be the only leftovers at the 2010 Empty Bowls Project of Abilene, an “international initiative to end world hunger,” according to the EBP Web site. The entire community is invited to join the fight against hunger from 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Highland Church of Christ.

This year marks the third EBP, an event that has raised more than $20,000 to date, according to the EBP Web site. At the event, participants purchase handmade ceramic bowls for $10 and share a meal of soup and bread with one another.

The event also includes a live band and a silent auction of other ceramic products. All profits go toward local and national charities to end hunger.

Dr. Stephanie Hamm, assistant professor of social work, said the School of Social Work participates in the event each year.

“It looked like a lot of people came through, and it was really fun,” Hamm said. “They had a live band going on, which made for a nice atmosphere.”

Hamm said faculty and staff in the School of Social Work are taking advantage of the opportunity to create and use their own bowls for the event through Mine by Design, a local studio where customers can craft and paint their own pottery.

“None of us profess to be artists, so we go to the paint-your-own-pottery studio,” she said.

Kristen Simpson, manager of Mine by Design, said the last day to come in and make pottery for EBP is Feb. 13. Simpson said the studio has already donated about 65 bowls for the event; 35 remain on a first-come, first-served basis. The studio will deliver the pottery to Highland Church of Christ in time for the event. Those interested should set aside between one and two hours to make the pottery.

“It just depends on how detailed you want it to be,” Simpson said.

This year, EBP will feature the Promise Singers, a vocal group from the Brownwood area, and Walker Lyle, a local singer and songwriter. For more information about the event or how to get involved, go to www.emptybowlsabilene.org. For more information or to book an appointment at Mine by Design, go to www.minebydesignpyop.com or call 698-7967.

“I would encourage students to call organizers and find out what they can do to help out on that day,” Hamm said. “Go paint your own pottery – donate a bowl.”