The Empty Bowls Project is a popular event in Victoria. For the past seven years, the charity event has sold handmade bowls filled with soup donated by local restaurants and caterers. The money raised at these events goes to local organizations that feed the hungry, such as Christ's Kitchen and Food Bank of the Golden Crescent. And now it's time to prepare for next year's event.

Sherri Pall, Empty Bowls co-sponsor, says the event aims to sell about 500 bowls every year. Last year, the group met that goal, as well as surpassing their goal of raising $10,000, thanks both to bowl sales and to local businesses that underwrite the event. This year, Pall hopes for similar success.

But the event depends on there being enough bowls to sell. Pall says the event is so popular, people have started lining up before the doors even open. But it's hard to sell 500 bowls or more if there aren't enough bowls to begin with. And that is why Victoria College plans to host a Bowl-A-Thon on Friday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in the VC Fine Arts Building.

The Bowl-A-Thon depends on volunteers who know how to throw a bowl on a pottery wheel. Pall said they often find people who took a pottery class years ago and think they don't know how to do it anymore, but once they come to the studio, it's like riding a bike. There are already two potters planning to come to Victoria from outside the area and help. We encourage anyone in the Crossroads who has experience in pottery to come and help out during the Bowl-A-Thon. This is a chance to take part in a event aimed at raising money to feed hungry people in our area, and we would love to see local talent show their skills and share it with the community by helping create the bowls.

The charity also gets assistance from the Victoria Art League, which has its own pottery studio and kiln. We applaud the Art League for getting involved with this event. We are glad to see a community organization partnering with this charity to make a difference. And we encourage any others with experience to join the teamwork and preparation for this popular event.

It is heartwarming to see so many people willing to give at this annual event to help feed people. But all this wouldn't be possible without the artists who work together to make more than 500 bowls every year. Thank you to all the volunteers to help make this possible. We look forward to seeing your work at the event in February.

This editorial reflects the views of the Victoria Advocate's editorial board.