Academy Schools’ Empty Bowl effort – an ongoing community-wide service project with Kent-based Northwest Harvest – continues to make an impact.

Donations and the collection of canned and dry nonperishable foods continue to roll in, organizers said.

Through the Empty Bowl program, Academy Schools of Tukwila has provided more than 12,377 meals, based on Northwest Harvest’s 22-cents-per-meal calculation.

Guests at a Jan. 19 Empty Bowl event shared a meal of soup and bread, generously donated by Pike Place Market and Safeway Store No. 1563 in Renton. A raffle – thanks to the donation of a large gift basket from Continental Mills – raised an additional $215 for Northwest Harvest.

Students, families, teachers recently had the opportunity to throw bowls, thanks to Bruce McIntyre, Academy Schools’ master potter and college and career counselor. The bowls – glazed, fired and available to purchase for $15 each – raised proceeds for Northwest Harvest.

The purpose of an Empty Bowl event is to help bring awareness about the impact of hunger on communities, locally and globally. The handmade ceramic bowls are taken home as a reminder that every day there are empty bowls around the globe – and each person has the power to do something to reduce the pain of hunger.

Academy Schools also would like to thank Seattle Pottery Supply for their part in creating dozens of ceramic bowls.

To learn more, visit academyschools.org.