On February 2, 2025, MCG Youth hosted an annual firing event for the Allegheny Chapter of Empty Bowls, bringing together fifteen ceramicists who created 358 bowls.
Founded in 1995, Empty Bowls events take place worldwide and aim to combat hunger. The local version, run by Just Harvest, features an annual spring fundraiser where participants enjoy soups donated by local restaurants and select handcrafted ceramic bowls.
Keith Herchenroether, a former ceramics teacher at North Hills High School of over 30 years, was instrumental in supporting Empty Bowls from its early years. He partnered with MCG Youth in 2014, encouraging participation from former students and local artists. This partnership has resulted in the donation of approximately 5,000 bowls over the past eleven years. Following Herchenroether's passing in 2022, his son Tod and wife Denise Balason continued this effort with support from Standard Clay Company and MCG Youth, along with ceramics teaching artist Bryce Hemington and the Keith Herchenroether Memorial Collective (KHMC).
The event highlights community collaboration and the power of creativity in addressing food insecurity.
To purchase tickets to the Empty Bowls 2025 dinner, click here: https://justharvest.org/empty-bowls-dinner-2025/
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