South Royalton, Vermont - March 15, 2010
For he second straight year, students at the Vermont Law School have held an "Empty Bowls Benefit" to combat hunger.
Students, faculty and members of the public line up in the Chase Community Center at the Vermont Law School to celebrate some good soup. Members of the school's International Law Society made the various stews for a day-long dinner. A much anticipated feast on campus.
"Woke up quite excited this morning getting ready to buy some soup. My soup is good. This is my second, a bowl a chili. My first, what was it, a bowl of cream potato, cream of mushroom with some nice potato in it," said Falko Schilling, a student Vermont Law School Student.
But just as important as what's in the soups is what the soups are being served in. Hand-made pottery bowls donated by schools and businesses around the region. About 200 bowls all together. A $5 or $10 donation gets you a dish and all the soup you can eat. The money goes to a good cause.
"It goes to Heifer International, which is pretty much you purchase animals or food instead of donating money directly to a community, so that way you are sure they are getting help and then Vermont Food Bank which is obviously well known around here," said Sarah McGuire of the International Law Society.
International Law Society members says the Empty Bowl Benefit highlights a serious problem, world hunger. An international issue that organizers say, in tough economic times, is not that far from home.
"This year it was definitely something we wanted to tackle with things being so hard in Vermont in general and everywhere I guess. It was really important to us that we have a really successful event to combat that," said McGuire.
"Though I don't mind giving my money to the cafeteria because they support local food, but you got to love when your money is going place to do good things and you get to walk away with some sweet pottery," said Schilling.
Students raised about a $1,000 last year and hoped to surpass that goal this time around.
Adam Sullivan - WCAX-TV
