First we'll tell you a bit about our organization
The Empty Bowls Project of Paducah...
We are a grassroots all-volunteer project to help end food insecurity. The Empty Bowls Project was created in 1990 by an art teacher, John Hartom. The premise is simple...artisans make bowls, folks make food, and then there is an event. Worldwide all of the events are different and unique. They all share the commonality of donating all of their proceeds to a local organization that deals with hunger.
The Empty Bowls Project of Paducah is the brain child of ceramicist, Michael Terra of Terra Cottage Studios. Upon moving to Paducah, through the Artist Relocation Program, he knew that he wanted to create an Empty Bowls Event as a way to give to back to his new community. He chose our local food kitchen, Community Kitchen, as the recipient for the proceeds of the event. Since its inception in 2010, The Empty Bowls Project of Paducah has raised more than $200,000 for the Community Kitchen. That money helps support the cost of more than 70,000 meals per year
Over the course of two decades Terra Cottage has donated boxes of bowls to about 11 different projects organized by friends in places like Milwaukee, Appleton, Dallas, Troy and Springfield (to name a few), and, since it’s inception here in Paducah, our Empty Bowls project has helped to start other projects, not only in surrounding counties like Marshall, Graves, Ballard, Lyons, Livingston and Carlisle, but we also helped start the Providence, RI project which benefits the Rhode Island Food Bank. We send them bowls too.
The Empty Bowls Project of Paducah is under the umbrella of the Greater Paducah Sustainability Project. Thanks to GPSP we have found ourselves a lovely home out of the rain.
To learn more about the recipient of our Empty Bowls fundraiser (Community Kitchen) please click here.
We're the EB Team...
Michael Terra
Johanna Comisak Rhodes
Victoria Terra
Michael has been a social activist from the beginning of forever and was the one who got the ball rolling for the local Empty Bowls Project here in Paducah when he and his family moved here in 2008.
He has an extremely varied background that includes the Hospitality industry, Building and construction, Private investigation, and, always, Art.
Because the ‘family business’ is making ceramics, we have the resources- tools, supplies, equipment, experience- to pull off a community engagement event like this with some hope of confidence. Each year the Terra family participates in about 8 other Empty Bowls events around the country by sending boxes of hand-made bowls to support efforts in WI, NY, IL, KY, GA and RI.
“In my upbringing Volunteering isn’t an “extra” thing- it’s what you do because you live in a community and that community lends its support to you every day and so you need to do the same- every day! There is always enough to share and the more you share, the more there is for everyone.”
Victoria Terra
Johanna Comisak Rhodes
Victoria Terra
Victoria received her BA in Theater Performing Arts from New England College. She has worked as an actress, drama teacher, baker (owning her own business), and has many years of restaurant hospitality under belt. She is currently co-owner of Terra Cottage Studios with her partner-in-crime, Michael Terra. All of her life she has been a volunteer; from working in homeless shelters to being the treasurer of many not-for-profits. She is currently the creator of this website.
When asked why she's involved with The Empty Bowls Project of Paducah she replied, "Because that's how I roll. We're all in this together and I feel a duty to support my fellow humans."
Johanna Comisak Rhodes
Johanna Comisak Rhodes
Johanna Comisak Rhodes
Johanna is a retired TV journalist (WPSD-TV), high school English teacher (Paducah Tilghman High School) and coffee shop co-owner (Etcetera), along with husband Allan. She and Allan now spend time traveling, visiting their grandchildren, enjoying life in the Lowertown Arts District, and being “staff” for their four cats. Johanna has been the Empty Bowls Committee secretary for many years and is the official EB photographer. She also volunteers in the archives at the McCracken County Public Library, helping to preserve local history, and has served on the boards of the Market House Theatre, Maiden Alley Cinema and Yeiser Art Center as well as being a member of the Paducah Board of Adjustment. Why Empty Bowls? Johanna says, “It’s the right thing to do.”
Tammara Tracy
Marcia Berenter
Johanna Comisak Rhodes
Tammara was an idealistic tomboy when she left the plains of Kansas with a very fine education. Landing in Indianapolis for what was intended to be a 3-year, not 3 decades, stint, she became an award-winning city planner, fulfilling her dream of blending development with sustainability. Having done what she could in Indy, she recalled visiting Paducah and noting the great strides the little city had made, so she took on the Planning Director mantle. Tammara left that position in 2021, and is a substitute teacher and a volunteer, because, as she says, “A community is everyone’s responsibility.” Tammara’s motto is “Leave it better;” consequently she’s always ready to step up and help. For Empty Bowls, she is helping with the restaurants, and anything that allows her to play with clay!
Jim Alworth
Marcia Berenter
Marcia Berenter
Jim worked as a barista for five years before going into corporate banking for more than eight years. In 2016, he became full-time at his ceramics company, Studio 2 Ceramics. Currently, he splits his time between Studio 2 Ceramics, working as the Studio Technician for the Paducah School of Art and Design and teaching community education ceramics classes. Jim used to live in Minneapolis, MN, and he helped with Empty Bowls there too, making bowls for the event. In Paducah, Jim’s job with Empty Bowls is assisting with the Throw-A-Thon community events and setting up and tearing down at the Empty Bowls event itself. He says, “As an artist it can sometimes feel as though we have little or no impact on the community and world around us. The Empty Bowls Project is a tangible way to give back to the local community. This event gives me the opportunity to make bowls that raise money for those experiencing food insecurity in our community. In addition to making bowls for this event, I have the opportunity to foster community through art and do good in the world.”
Marcia Berenter
Marcia Berenter
Marcia Berenter
Marcia loves teenagers. Following 13 years implementing programs for deaf students throughout the state of Alaska, she moved to Seattle where she coordinated alternative programs for students with learning disabilities, implemented advocacy initiatives for GLBTQ+ students and served as a middle and high school counselor. To end her career she advised students as they secured their unique place in higher education. Prior to moving to Paducah in 2021 her volunteer work revolved around insuring that every child has the right to become educated in a safe and supportive environment with her most recent attention centering on self determination for immigrant and refugee students and families. She was drawn to Paducah, her life partner’s home town, for its collaborative and giving community.
Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much” – Helen Keller.
Food is our common ground and art feeds our soul. 35 million people in the U.S. are hungry or don't know where their next meal is coming from, and 13 million of them are children. We have a moral obligation to fix this. "If not us, who? And if not now, when?" - Hillel
Karin Ahrens
Angie Bravard
Angie Bravard
Karin's volunteer work includes:
Bright Life Farms (where she volunteered in group programs, taught and assisted in water aerobics program & other activities, and worked with residents in various situations), Little League Softball, Tball coach, Community Theatre in Bardstown, KY (doing a bit of everything), worked the info table at LowerTown Arts and Music Festival numerous years starting in 2014, worked the tables at Empty Bowls beginning 2018 (as well as assisting with set up, tear down, whatever else needed doing), and in 2022 worked the Silent Auction Table and made bowls for Empty Bowls event.
"I enjoy working with the others involved in the Empty Bowl project. It is a wonderful and very worthwhile project. I really enjoy watching the faces of those people who see the bowls they made on the table for distribution shine with joy and pride. The purpose for the Empty Bowls project, providing for the Community Kitchen here in Paducah, is such a wonderful cause. This organization does so very much for so many that are in need, it is wonderful to be able to help support them.
Thank you for the opportunity."
Angie Bravard
Angie Bravard
Angie Bravard
Angie Bravard was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, then moved to Terre Haute before leaving the Hoosier State for Paducah. She is the Area Pet Training Instructor for PetSmart and is obviously a “dog and cat” person. Her concern for animals has led her to take part in the Love on a Leash pet therapy program and to doing assessment testing for dogs for Rescue Wagon. Angie has also taken this volunteer work home by being a foster for pregnant and nursing dog and cats for the Parke-Vermillion (IN) humane
shelter.
Angie knew about Empty Bowls because there was an Empty Bowls project in Terre Haute. She says when she moved to Paducah, she wanted to get involved in the community and sought out the Empty Bowls Project here. “While most of my volunteer efforts in the past have been geared around animals,” she says, “I felt this chapter in my life should include other endeavors. The Empty Bowls Project fits various interests and passions that I have in my life.”
Rick Ahrens
Angie Bravard
Rick Ahrens
Rick has spent his career in construction management and consulting. As far as volunteer work, he has been a Little League coach and administrator and is a member of the Lowertown Neighborhood Association flag crew which places American flags around the Lowertown Arts District neighborhood on holidays. With Empty Bowls, Rick has done material handling, event setup and cleanup and as a musician, has played the guitar and has sung at the Empty Bowls project event itself. Why Empty Bowls? Rick says, “I believe the reason to have Empty Bowls is extremely important to the community, and I admire and enjoy working with the other members of the committee on this worthwhile event.”
Grace Martin
Hillary Cross
Rick Ahrens
Grace is currently the Finance Systems Functional Consultant for a software customization and integration firm. She spends her days talking to clients about their current financial processes and challenges, then designs individualized computerized financial solutions. Once the solutions are developed, she tests them and trains the clients on how to use them.
She began her career as a System Analyst at Radio Free Europe in Munich Germany and was fortunate to be there at that pivotal moment when the Berlin Wall came down. Since returning to Paducah, Grace has held positions from Cost Accountant to CFO in multiple manufacturing companies including Dippin’ Dots and Siemans Rail.
She serves as the Empty Bowls Treasurer. From all appearances, Grace is a mild mannered techno/financial geek. But under that veneer lies a passion for all things creative.
Joining the committee in 2018, Grace was drawn to the project because not only does it provide significant resources for hunger relief in our community; it does so with great flair! She loves the feel of the clay coming to life when crafting a bowl, the surprise of the glaze after firing, and the overflowing joy of event day when the community comes together to feast and
give to those in need. She says, “Giving is part of my spiritual practice. There is a profound satisfaction to knowing I can help those less fortunate.”
Mary Byrne
Hillary Cross
Hillary Cross
Mary has many years leading both not-for-profit organizations and for-profit businesses, focused mainly in the performing arts and working with youth. She and her spouse owned and managed an LGBT bookstore and an urban retail store in downtown Indianapolis, IN, for years. She feels the threads of her life express the profound importance of building community and empowering the individual. Mary co-chairs the Restaurant Engagement committee with Tammara Tracy.
Hillary Cross
Hillary Cross
Hillary Cross
Hillary Cross is a Homeschool teacher. She worked at Manier & Herod (a corporate law firm in Nashville, Tennessee) for 8 years before leaving to start her family. She enjoys cooking, concerts, collecting vinyl records, and reading.
She enjoys doing outreach to restaurants & meeting new friends and feels extremely honored to be involved. She has chosen to join The Empty Bowls team because she wants to make sure everyone in our community is food secure.
Sharon Chalke
Sharon Chalke
Sharon Chalke
Sharon is a retired registered nurse and she spent the last 40 years of her career as a hemodialysis nurse.
Sharon has been involved with The Empty Bowls Project of Paducah from almost the very beginning and has built, wrapped, unwrapped and helped people choose their
Bowls for years.
When asked why she's decided to make a bigger commitment and has joined our committee she says, "I enjoy working with EB because of their mission to feed and assist the poor in our area and I really really like working in clay."