For the past eight years, Princeton Day School has participated in Empty Bowls, a charity event that blends art and service to fight food insecurity in our local community. What started as a ceramics initiative has grown into a meaningful tradition that brings faculty and families together for a common cause. During the event, attendees share a simple meal and select a handmade bowl to keep as a reminder of why the gathering matters. All proceeds are then donated to various organizations that are committed to supporting those who face food insecurity.
In the months leading up to the event, ceramics students dedicate hours to designing, firing, and glazing each bowl. Every piece is unique and reflects the immense creativity and care that gets put into it. For many students, the project becomes about using their ceramics skills to make a difference.
Freshman Jahnavi Shankar described the pride that comes with contributing to something so meaningful. “It makes me feel proud because I spend so much time glazing and making these bowls for other people to use,” she expressed. The process requires endless patience and precision, but knowing that the bowls will support a larger cause makes all the effort worthwhile. Shankar also shared her plans for next year’s Empty Bowls: “As a ceramics student, it’s a privilege to be a part of something that allows you to work together and give back to the community.”
For many students visiting the event, choosing a bowl is often intentional. Many walk around the display tables, examining the variety of colors, patterns, and shapes before deciding which one feels right. Knowing that another student made the bowl adds a layer of depth to the process.
Freshman Kiara Jalali reflected on the event’s broader impact, explaining, “I think events like this help strengthen the community because it brings people together for a common cause.” Her words capture the fact that Empty Bowls is not just a fundraiser, but also an event that unites and strengthens PDS.
According to ceramics teacher Eric Rempe, who has guided the project, the impact continues to grow: “I mean, it’s grown in terms of the number of people that we’ve been able to impact, that struggle with food insecurity every single day. Next year, we should pass the quarter million mark in terms of meals that we’ve provided. This is the eighth year, so year nine will provide 250,000 meals over the course of the project. That’s very impressive.”
When asked what Empty Bowls symbolizes to him, Mr. Rempe said that it represents “hope for the future that this generation is going to continue to do things to make a difference in the world they live in.” Through art and service, Empty Bowls reminds everyone that small acts of creativity can fill someone else’s plate.
