04-03-2025
Greater Johnstown students getting ready for annual Empty Bowls dinner fundraiser
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Students in Greater Johnstown High School's Key Club are shaping clay and decorating ceramic dishes as they prepare for the 14th annual Empty Bowls dinner in a little more than a month.
Students gathered in art teacher and club co-adviser Cindy Maloy's classroom Monday to help create roughly 400 bowls for the fundraiser, scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. April 24 at Bottle Works in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.
'Being in a community like Johnstown, where there's a higher rate of unhoused people and people who are experiencing food insecurity, it's nice to know we're helping,' said sophomore Jackson Synan, who is in his third year in Key Club and his second year helping with the Empty Bowls dinner.
PHOTO GALLERY | Greater Johnstown High School Key Club Empty Bowls Fundraiser
The fundraiser supports the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Altoona-Johnstown, the Cambria County Backpack Project and the Women's Help Center.
'I specifically love that it's our community and we get to choose where the money goes,' Synan said. 'We know the people it's affecting.'
Empty Bowls was started by a Michigan art teacher in 1990 as a way to raise awareness of food insecurity and to allow artists and students to make a difference. Spinoff fundraisers have sprouted across the U.S., including in Johnstown, with proceeds going back to the community.
'When I think about when we started this venture to where we are now, it's hard to believe we'd be this successful after 14 years,' Maloy said.
She said the opportunity to help the community is paramount, and so is showcasing students' good work. As of Monday, Maloy had 47 students making bowls, with plans for more than 75 to assist this year.
'We have a lot of new students who have picked this up, which is awesome,' she said.
Key Club students from the middle school chapter are also being tapped to help out with glazing bowls.
Delanie Kiser, a Greater Johnstown senior, described the dinner as a great opportunity for the community, adding that she enjoys making the bowls. She has made about 30 bowls so far in her third year of helping with the event and being a Key Club member.
'I'm so grateful to be part of it,' she said. 'It's so great to see the money raised go back to the community.'
A new addition this year is the Soup 'R Bowl event at Made in Johnstown to raise proceeds for Empty Bowls. The pottery challenge will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, with money from registration fees being donated to the Key Club. Made in Johnstown has also donated the clay for the event and will provide the bowls for the dinner April 24.
Getting more community members involved is exciting, Maloy said.
'This is here and this is just beautiful,' Key Club co-adviser Luigina Magistro said.
Empty Bowls was her introduction into being a club adviser and is a fundraiser she is passionate about, Magistro said. She added that she's always excited to see the students do positive work and support their community.
