The Bethpage school community came together on Mar. 18 in the Bethpage High School cafeteria for the school's annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, a student-driven event that raises money for Island Harvest, a Long Island-based hunger relief organization.
Organized by Bethpage High School's ceramic artists under the guidance of art teacher Elena Cardo, the fundraiser has become a beloved spring tradition since its founding four years ago. The event was the brainchild of two Bethpage seniors, Alyssa Khan and Athanasia Panagos, who worked with fellow students to establish a local chapter of the Empty Bowls Project, a national grassroots movement of artists and craftspeople united by a shared mission to help end hunger in their communities.
The work begins months before the event itself. Each fall, Bethpage's ceramic artists start crafting unique, handmade ceramic bowls; by the time spring arrives, dozens of one-of-a-kind pieces are ready for attendees to take home. Tickets were priced at $20 and included a bowl of soup provided by Aramark, enjoyed in the ceramic bowl of each guest's choosing – a keepsake they could take home with them. Additional bowls were available for purchase at $10 each. All proceeds, along with money raised through raffles, were donated directly to Island Harvest.
As guests savored their soup, a quartet of Bethpage High School musicians set the mood with an eclectic mix of live music, including selections from ABBA and Sade.
Beyond the funds raised, the Empty Bowls Fundraiser offered something equally meaningful: a chance for students to share their creativity with their community, and for the Bethpage community to come together in support of a cause that matters.
