300 calories a day

Many of the poor around the world survive on 300 calories each day. This fact was unacceptable to the students in Greg Trone's Health Education class and Sam Hodges and Al Paces ceramics classes.

Many community members agreed with these students and showed up at the Pecos Campus on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at the Empty Bowls event to buy hand-crafted bowls on World Hunger Day.

The ceramics students had been making the bowls since September. The day of the event, Health Education service-learning students helped set up, wrap up the unique bowls and serve the small bowl of soup that represented the minimal 300 calories the poor across the globe survive upon each day.

Southwestern corn chowder was provided by Chef Brian Dragos who works for Minor’s, a division of Nestle, and an autumn bisque was donated by Chef Wallis Berry from the Chandler Christian Community Center (CCCC).

Empty Bowls was a huge success, selling 480 handmade bowls and raising $5,170 to benefit the CCCC. The center partners with the college each semester through service-learning projects and will use the proceeds to fund their local food bank which provides 16,800 food boxes to those in need in Chandler and Gilbert, to support their Family Resource Center, and to prevent homelessness and help those who are homeless through programs like I-Help.

The CGCC Vocal Jazz Ensemble directed by Marcus Denton provided some of the musical  entertainment for the day along with several other CGCC student solo and duo performances.

Service learning employee Alex Cannell was essential in bringing the need to CGCC faculty and students. The successful event was an example of authentic teaching and learning that makes a difference in the community.

Written by Carrie Braaten and Michael Greene.