The bowls were empty, but the cafetorium was full. On Thursday night, Marshall School hosted its first Empty Bowls Project, the brainchild of art teacher Jessica Fong. 

For the past two months, Fong explains, every child at Marshall, from pre-kindergarten through second grade, crafted a pottery bowl. 

"When I saw that kiln," says Fong, who was new to the school last year, "I knew we had to do this project."

Inspired by a charitable effort in Michigan, Fong taught the students not only to work with clay and to see a project through the firing process, but to become more aware of hunger. While the original project had the bowls for sale, Fong recognized that, for younger children, their artwork is "too precious to sell." Instead, families were invited to view student projects on Thursday. In addition, Marshall families were asked to bring non-perishables for a local food pantry. 

"We chose to donate to Our Lady of Sorrows," explains Fong, "because the food pantry, like this school, serves people in both South Orange and Maplewood." She and a group of parent volunteers plan to deliver the donations this weekend. "You can get a lot of food in a Honda," Fong jokes.

Fong worked with principal Angelica Allen to develop what they describe as a "meaningful service project" that was appropriate for young students. "The kids are over-the-moon excited," says Fong. "All day long they kept telling me they were coming, bringing food and picking up their bowls."

The evening also offered parents a chance to view Smartboards in action. Terry Woolard, Director of Educational Media and Technology, demonstrated Smart Table Technology in the school library.

The evening concluded with the popular Teacher Time raffles, an annual PTA-sponsored fundraiser in which families buy tickets that can win students a prize. The prizes include a "Principal for a Day" opportunity, a Marshall School shirt signed by teachers, a picnic at Grove Park with Mrs. Lincoln or Mrs. Charles, or a first-choice, prepaid Enrichment class for the spring term. 

Until the last possible minute, young students considered the choices, each labeled clearly on a brown paper bag. Ms. Konzelman offered nail painting and lunch, while Mr. Wojcio was ready to show his bowling skills with two winning students. When students decided, their tickets went into the bags, some of which were nearly full by evening's end.

The event's true winner was the Food Pantry at Our Lady of Sorrows. By the end of the night, food overflowed a table. Cans and boxes then filled tables where the empty bowls crafted by students once stood. It was a fitting symbol of Marshall School's success in showing students that community can combat hunger, one bowl at a time.