Cincinnati, Ohio, March 26, 2020– Saint Ursula Academy students recently raised $3,000 for La Soupe, a local agency whose mission is to make sure that perishable food does not go to waste. This donation is a result of a reimagined “Empty Bowls” event, which is usually held in-person but was successfully transformed into a virtual event this year.
Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement by artists and craftspeople in cities and towns around the world to care for and feed the hungry. Empty Bowls supports food-related charitable organizations and has raised millions of dollars to help end hunger. With SUA ceramics teacher Kurt Nicaise at the helm, 2021 marks SUA’s ninth year hosting Empty Bowls to raise awareness of poverty and hunger in the Cincinnati area in partnership with a local agency that provides relief services. In the past, the event has supported Shelterhouse, Queen City Kitchen, and Interfaith Hospitality Network, to name a few. The traditional in-person lunch had to be modified this year, however, due to COVID safety protocols.
As the first step of this event with a focus on service-learning, Saint Ursula Academy ceramics students studied poverty and hunger in the greater Cincinnati area. This year, their work led them to focus on La Soupe in Walnut Hills, whose mission is to Rescue – Transform – Share.
Mr. Nicaise’s ceramics students once again created ceramic bowls and instead of inviting guests to a lunch on campus, they invited guests to purchase a “Benefit Box,” which included two handmade bowls, soup mix, corn bread mix, vinegar and honey. The Carriage House Farm and The Madhouse Vinegar Company graciously supported students by providing the food mixes and recipes. In addition, they donated locally produced honey and vinegar for every box.
In the end, students prepared and sold nearly 100 Empty Bowls Benefit Boxes, and were able to donate nearly $3,000 to La Soupe.
Saint Ursula Academy is a Catholic, college-preparatory, secondary school for young women known for academic excellence and rich tradition. Saint Ursula welcomes students from more than 80 grade schools in the Greater Cincinnati area. The Class of 2020 reported earning college scholarship offers averaging $169,375 per student. The Academy is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. The campus, located at 1339 E. McMillan Street in East Walnut Hills has been the home of Saint Ursula Academy and Convent since 1910.
Photo Caption: Saint Ursula Academy Ceramics students Elizabeth Burns ’22 from Monfort Heights and Brooklyn Chrisman ’22 from Clermont County put together Benefit Boxes containing handmade bowls, soup mix, cornbread mix, vinegar and honey. The boxes were sold with proceeds benefitting La Soupe.