North Union High School Students Lend Their Artistic Hands to the Union County Empty Bowls Project

North Union High School students are joining the movement — crafting handmade ceramic bowls to raise awareness for food insecurity across Union County and support their fellow classmates in need.

In a heartwarming display of creativity and community spirit, students from North Union High School's ceramics classes are making a meaningful impact on their local community by participating in the Union County Empty Bowls Project. As explained in a previous article published in the Union County Daily Digital, the Union County Empty Bowls Project is a collaborative initiative, which aims to raise awareness about food insecurity, while supporting local high school food pantries, Blessings in a Backpack programs, and Impact Station. It has gained momentum across Union County, and North Union High School is proudly contributing to the cause.

Led by their dedicated art teacher, Paige Bayer, students have been working diligently to create unique, hand-crafted bowls for the upcoming Union County Empty Bowls event, on March 16th, 2025. Each bowl tells its own story, crafted with care and attention, and each one represents a small, but powerful gesture of hope for those in need.

For the North Union High School students, it is more than just an artistic endeavor—it is an opportunity to make a tangible difference in their community. Over the past few months, students in ceramics classes have been busy forming their bowls from clay, whether it be throwing on the wheel or starting from a slab. The vision is clear at North Union as their slogan is: "Everybody counts or nobody counts" and that rings true in this project. Students are helping students by creating bowls to symbolize the emptiness felt by those who go without food.

A Simple Bowl, A Big Difference

For these young artists, the project has become more than just an assignment; it has grown into an important lesson in empathy, service, and the power of community action. By engaging in this hands-on project, students are learning the value of giving back, while also sharpening their artistic skills. An individual bowl may seem small, but it has a huge impact. In speaking with a few of the students, the consensus is knowing that something they created could help someone in need really makes them appreciate what they have and has motivated them to do more for others.

The Empty Bowls project also offers students a chance to understand the broader issue of food insecurity, a growing concern across the nation and in our community. At the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, 44.5% of students in the district were on free and reduced lunch, which was up from 42% the previous school year. The North Union High School food pantry regularly feeds at least 10 families per week. They have been utilizing social media, local churches, and grants for funding. The food pantry also provides boxed meals for families and students over all of the school breaks, and specifically holiday meals.

This is especially helpful as high school students age out of the Blessings in a Backpack program, but may have to act as parents in the evening by preparing their own meals for themselves and their younger siblings. The food pantry is able to provide students with easy dinner options so that they are not going to bed hungry. North Union High School is always gratefully accepting offerings. Any donations can be dropped off at the NUHS main office.

By participating in the Empty Bowls project, students are not just contributing to their school food pantry, but they are also becoming more informed about the struggles faced by their classmates and neighbors who experience hunger.

Bowls on Display Across the Community

Thanks to their hard work and dedication, many of the artfully crafted bowls created by NUHS students are already on display at both the Richwood branch and the Marysville branch of Richwood Bank. Their bowls will also be on display and available to be chosen at the Community Meal event on March 16th at Memorial Hospital with the purchase of a meal ticket.

The Power of Collective Action

One of the most powerful aspects of this project is its ability to bring people together around a common cause. Whether it be students, teachers, parents, or community members, everyone plays an important role in addressing hunger. The act of giving—whether through creating art, raising funds, or spreading awareness—reinforces the idea that individuals can make a difference, no matter their age or background.

Together, these gracious students are creating bowls and filling hearts, all the while proving that art has the power to change lives.

Join NUHS and IMPACT60 in Supporting the Cause!

Get your $20 ticket to the Empty Bowls Community Meal on March 16th here: givebutter.com/i60emptybowls2025. You can also donate to the Union County Empty Bowls project through the same link if you are unable to attend the March 16th meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Share this article

Help Us Fight Food Insecurity

Join IMPACT60 in making a difference. Whether through volunteering your time or making a donation, your support directly impacts students and families in Central Ohio.

IMPACT60 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN: 82-4212924. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.