SANDPOINT — Carefully displayed across several tables were brightly colored bowls. Some big; others small. Some meant for dipping; others for a hearty bowl of soup meant to warm the soul.

Helping residents pick which of the treasures to take home with them were a handful of Sandpoint High School art students who helped craft more than 250 bowls to gift to the Bonner Community Food Bank's annual Empty Bowl fundraiser held last week.

Tasked with making six bowls to donate to the fundraiser, SHS student Rachel Aylward said she loved the idea of giving back.

"I really love volunteering," she said. "I love to help the community. I volunteer at my church's soup kitchen; it's just something I enjoy doing. I really love being a part of the community and engaging in this way, and this was just another opportunity for me to do that."

With mom Zabrielle Dillon teaching art at Sandpoint High, Zarah Dillon grew up in a creative family, finding a love for making art early on. From pottery to artwork, the SHS student said she loves the creative process and was excited to help make bowls for the annual fundraiser.

In some classes, students have an assignment to make a certain style of bowl, while in others they have creative freedom to see where the process takes them.

Adding to that creativity is the ability to share their work with the community — and help those in need at the same time.

"I just really love how the community came together for this whole thing, especially since before it was open to the public, all the teachers from SHS came, and I loved being able to show them what we did," Dillon said.

Classmate Harmony MacDougall agreed.

"It was a lot of fun to talk to my teachers and show them what I've made and see what they like," she added. "It was a lot of fun to see how the bowls made them happy."

Like her classmates, MacDougall said creating the bowls was a lot of fun, with some made specifically for the fundraiser and others made for a class project and left behind.

In total, the students said more than 300 bowls were donated to the fundraiser.

"This way, these bowls get to have a different life and make someone happy, which I think is super fun," MacDougall said.

The art students said the process of making the bowls is part creativity and part labor of love. There are decisions to make about how big — or small — to make a bowl, what color of glaze to use, whether there should be a pattern, and what shape the bowl should be.

"There is also a kind of waiting to see if it turned out the way I wanted to," Aylward said. "It's a lot of fun."

Bonner Community Food Bank officials said they served about 280 people at the fundraiser, raising more than $5,000.

"It was very heartening to see the show of support for the food bank and our mission," said Ana Kampe, the food bank's volunteer and program outreach director. "The students made such unique and inspiring contributions."

Volunteers helping at the event, including the SHS students, made the event a success.

"Thank you to our sponsors and community for creating such a great experience," Debbie Love, executive director of the Bonner Community Food Bank, said.

While a fundraiser, the Empty Bowl event also offers a reminder of what can happen when the community gathers around food with compassion. The bowls donated by the students and presented to attendees are designed to be taken home as a reminder that while the meal is simple, the need in the community is ongoing, Love said.

Proceeds from the Empty Bowl event directly support the Bonner Community Food Bank’s mission to ensure individuals and families in Bonner County have access to nutritious food. For many households, food assistance means less stress, more stability and the ability to focus on work, school and health instead of worrying about the next meal, Love said.

The Empty Bowl fundraiser was first held in the community in mid-November 2015 in recognition of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. The event took a hiatus during the pandemic and returned in 2024 as a spring event.

In Bonner County, a significant percentage of the population struggles with hunger, food bank officials said. In 2017, the food bank was helping more than 900 area families each month. By 2021, that number had increased to roughly 1,020 families a month, and the need continues to grow.

The food bank saw 33,000 visits in 2022, topping the previous record of 24,000 in 2021.

This year, the food bank is assisting an average of 3,700 individuals each month, representing a nearly 16% increase over last year, Love said.

The heavy and ongoing demand for its services has the food bank needing staple food supplies as well as canned meats, tuna and chicken. For more information about what items are needed, go to the food bank's website at bonnerfoodbank.org.

Volunteers are also needed, and there are several open spots. Those interested can call the food bank at 208-263-3663 or go to the food bank's website at bonnerfoodbank.org.