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Dot Burnworth works on soup bowls at Sawmill Pottery.

 

 

By Linda Lemmon

Town Crier Editor

PUTNAM --- It's rather like hands joined in a circle. Some of those hands are covered with clay. Some with pottery glaze. Some with flour. Some covered with ink.

And this village of hands works together to create the third annual Empty Bowls Project.  The Congregational Church of Putnam and Sawmill Pottery will present their third annual Empty Bowls Project March 15 at the church, to significantly benefit the Interfaith Human Services of Putnam and Daily Bread.

Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger. Potters and volunteers create handcrafted bowls and guests are invited to a simple meal of soup and bread. For $18 the guests keep their bowls as a reminder of the empty bowls in the world. The church's Myra Paulhus said the event raised $3000 for Daily Bread. The goal this year is $3500. 

Tickets are available at the church, Sawmill Pottery and at Daily Bread. 

Dot Burnworth, owner of Sawmill Pottery, said creating some 200 soup bowls takes months. "We make them throughout the year and into the very late fall. At the beginning of January the push to get the rest done" takes off.

Burnworth's general philosophy of business mirrors her philosophy of living in a small community.

"We're all part of the community. We should all take part in the community," she said. "If a business only thinks of the bottom line, it's missing the point of being involved with the community." She added, "This is a way to use my talent to give back to the community."

Likewise the community's restaurants feel the same. Not only are soups donated but restaurants also donate breads and more. Restaurants taking part include Jessica Tuesday, Soleil & Sons Bakery, Harvest Moon, Marika's, The Crossing, Someplace Special, Bill's Bread & Breakfast, Vanilla Bean, Grill 37, Main St. Grille, Inn at Woodstock Hill, the bakers of Daily Bread, the cooks of Congregational Church of Putnam, Victoria Station, J.D. Cooper's and more.  Refuge Salon and the Lions Club Leo also help out.

The church's Terri Pearsall said she didn't realize until she started volunteering at Daily Bread that so much good work was done with donations. And the need is growing. When Daily Bread started in 2007 the number of individuals served was 4,298 and the number of meals provided was 41,850. In 2013 the number of individuals served was 8,103 and the number of meals provided was 104,918.

Paulhus said "the bottom line is to remind people that people do have empty bowls." The church's Roger Franklin said the community supports the church and the church supports the community. "When I've gone to suppliers, I've never been turned down," he added.

Pearsall added, "There's genuine enthusiasm. So much generosity. If there's a need, the area will support you."