Cochrane's Empty Bowls event not only enables you to pick out a one of a kind bowl or mug but acknowledges that everyone has a right for food.

Tomorrow (July 1) the eighth annual event acknowledges local hunger in our society by selling off beautifully handcrafted pottery pieces for a $20 cash donation showcased near to Royal Lepage Allstars on Cochrane's Historic Main Street.

Nicole Snider, the owner of Saffron Collective Studios, says the donation allows you to pick out a bowl/mug of your choice along with a voucher to fill it up with food or drink at one of the participating restaurants with all proceeds going to support the Cochrane Activettes Food Bank. "As potters, we make a bunch of bowls that we donate to the Activettes food bank and it represents the hunger in our community. For your twenty dollars, you will get a filled bowl or mug; so that could be a cup of coffee, scone, spaghetti and meat sauce, or butter chicken, rice and nan."

Somewhere between twenty and twenty-five potters contribute to Empty Bowls, and as soon as this year's event wraps up, some of the artists get to work straight away for next year. Due to last year's popularity, this year will once again feature a Canadiana theme, shares Snider. "We sold lots of things with a Canadian flag or a maple leaf. We are getting a lot of silk screens in so we are doing that as well; we've got squirrels, beavers, and a lot of cool wildlife that will be coming out."

Empty Bowls will be running from 9 in the morning through to 3 p.m., and once you purchase your bowl you will then be able to get it filled at one of the participating restaurants (July 1st only).

Once again Ducks on the Roof, COBS Bread, Mehtab, Schooners on First, Mackay's Ice Cream, and Guy's Cafe and Bakery are all participating in the event. 

Last year the event raised right around 3,500 dollars for Cochrane's local food bank, and Snider says Empty Bowls drives home the importance of supporting our local community. "It's very important because we do have hunger that sometimes people don't notice and don't see, it's kind of in the background. It was when I became aware of the stats that I found it to be quite astounding."