Dale Rogers of the Gray Catbird Pottery Studio with the bowls she’s made to raise money for the Huntington Food Pantry.
Reminder Publishing photo by Amy Porter
HUNTINGTON — Dale Rogers, proprietor of the Gray Catbird Pottery Studio, has been making bowls all summer, recently completing her 150th, which her students are glazing.
The bowls are destined for four Empty Bowls fundraisers to raise money for the Huntington Food Pantry.
Laura Gavioli, director of the food pantry, has been facing a cut in funding — the last Community Development Block Grant they normally receive annually was stretched over two years — and an increase in the numbers of Hilltown families seeking food.
“I’m stunned by how many new people have come into this building. It’s jaw dropping,” Gavioli said of visitors to the pantry, which is located in the basement of the Pioneer Valley Assembly of God at 63 Old Chester Rd. in Huntington.
Since January through the end of July, she’s seen 188 new people, a total of 62 new households. “That’s a lot. In one month, we had 53 new individuals in May. Year to date, we’ve given away 65,300 pounds of food.”
The Huntington Food Pantry has been helping people since the 1990s. It is open Thursdays from 9-11:30 a.m. and 2-4:30 p.m. Gavioli said if someone is a Hilltown resident, they are welcome. “With our 12 freezers, we’re choice. They don’t have to take food they don’t want. They make the food decisions here so there’s less food waste,” she said.
“These people are in our backyard. It’s OK to come here. Once people come here, they say, ‘phew, I thought this would be awkward, and it’s not.’”
Gavioli said the pantry is self-declaring, and no financial information is required when people come in, just information on where they’re from. “If you’re here, clearly, you need help. It’s a humbling experience you don’t want to need,” she added.
Rogers decided she wanted to help the food pantry with the growing demand, and began to make the bowls. She had previously participated in an Empty Bowls fundraiser started by her mentor at Mount Holyoke College, which she remembers fondly. Her students at the pottery studio were happy to help and volunteered to glaze the bowls. Potter Linda Siska, who gives classes at the studio, also joined in to make bowls.
Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement by artists and crafts people in cities and towns around the world to raise money for food related charities that care for and feed the hungry in their communities. Since starting, Empty Bowls has supported food-related charitable organizations around the world, and has raised millions of dollars to help end hunger.
The bowls will be on display at four soup and bread suppers being planned, starting on the last Saturday in September through the third week of October. For a suggested donation of $25, guests may choose a handmade ceramic bowl, enjoy soup and a homemade roll at no extra cost, and take their bowl home with them. All proceeds from the bowls will go to the food pantry.
The soup, a choice of chicken noodle or vegetarian vegetable, is being prepared by Darryl Fisk of Moltebrey’s Market in Huntington, the rolls by the women in the local Mennonite community and the ambiance by local Hilltown musicians. Children’s portions will also be available in small disposable cups for a suggested donation of $5 per child.
The Empty Bowls fundraisers will take place on Saturdays, 3-6 p.m. from Sept. 27 through Oct. 18 in the following locations: Sept. 27 at the Chester Railway Station; Oct. 4 at Montgomery Town Hall; Oct. 11 at Stanton Hall in Huntington and on Oct. 18 at the Pioneer Valley Assembly of God, where the food pantry is located.
No pre-registration is required. Stop by between 3 and 6 p.m. at any of the four locations, choose a bowl, hang out, listen to music, enjoy a warm meal of soup and bread and go home with an Empty Bowl, all to benefit hilltown neighbors in need.
“It’s about coming together to eliminate food insecurity in our hilltowns. That means all of us, doing what we can for those among us who are struggling,” said Rogers.
For more information, contact Gavioli at huntingtonfoodpantry@gmail.com, 413-667-3196 or Rogers at Gray Catbird Pottery, graycatbirdpottery@gmail.com.
