Bowls full of neighborly help

By Elise Franco

AUSTINTOWN — Karen Weinberg used clay to mold her students’ minds about giving back to the community.

Weinberg, who has been teaching art at Austintown Fitch High School for 29 years, is working to raise money for local families who may need a little extra help to put food on the table.

A Souper Supper will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Fitch cafeteria.

Weinberg said for $5 patrons will get a handmade clay bowl that is theirs to keep; soup, bread, dessert and a drink.

As of Friday, Weinberg said 90 tickets had been sold, but she expects a sellout come Wednesday. She said the idea was to first open the supper to school district faculty only, to avoid overloading herself and those planning the event.

Weinberg said she’s since decided to sell remaining tickets to anyone who wishes to attend.

She said she discovered the fundraiser through a longtime friend, Linda Joyce, who teaches art at Mohawk Junior Senior High School in Bessemer, Pa.

“Mohawk has been doing this for several years,” Weinberg said. “A colleague and I went to it last year, and I always had in the back of my mind that we could do it here at Fitch.”

She said she began making the bowls, and Fitch Principal Douglas McGlynn agreed to pay for any extra clay and materials needed.

Students and staff, knowing Weinberg would need their help, caught wind and started pitching in.

Weinberg said senior Estelene Provance had been coming in during her study hall for several weeks to making the bowls on the pottery wheel.

She said about 160 bowls have been made on the pottery wheel, glazed and prepared for the supper.

Provance’s reason for getting involved was twofold, she said.

“I could help people out and enhance my bowl-making skills at the same time,” she said.

Provance said since January she’s made between 50 and 60 bowls.

She said although she will graduate in June, she hopes her friends and family will participate next year.

“A lot of my friends think it’s really cool that I do this,” Provance said. “I have two younger brothers, and I’m hoping that maybe if they see an opportunity like that, they would take it, too.”

Weinberg said all the proceeds will go toward purchasing food coupons for needy families in the community.

“We have kids walking in every day whose parents have lost their jobs,” she said. “Your heart just goes out to them.”

In order to find the families most in need, Weinberg said she’s been working with the schools’ guidance counselors.

“They’re very aware of whose been impacted by these tough economic conditions,” she said. “We want to hit as many families as possible.”

Although Weinberg said she didn’t reach her initial goal of 200 bowls for the supper, she said she’s received donations that far surpass what she was expecting.

She said the Parent Teacher Association will raffle six gift baskets during the supper; cupcakes donated by staff members and some of her own pottery will be for sale.

She said many people have sent in monetary donations, and all of the food was donated by a person who wished to remain anonymous.

The high school jazz band and choir will also perform.

“It’s really grown into so much more than I thought it would,” Weinberg said.

For tickets, contact Austintown Fitch High School at (330) 797-3900.

efranco@vindy.com

SEE ALSO: If you go: Souper Supper.