Feed The Hungry, Support Local Art and Great Gifts

A win~win opportunity presents itself in Ruston on December 6th. In addition to the Business District Open House, you can purchase beautiful handmade soup bowls, jams or chutney just in time for holiday gifts ~ and the proceeds benefit the hungry and support local art. Check out this announcement and letter with background on this worthy cause and the folks who make it happen.

On this, Thanksgiving Eve, I am again stuck by the generous, thoughtful people who make living in Ruston so wonderful. Thank you Ginger, Lucy and the many others who give so much. The world is a better place because of your efforts! ~ Karen
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Please Come for a Second Helping!
(A Great Dessert for the Empty Bowls Event*)

December 6 – Ginger’s studio in Ruston
December 7, 8, 9 – Karen’s studio on Fox Island

An event to benefit the Emergency Food Network of Pierce County

Ginger Kryger and Karen Craven (aka the F.I.N.E Mudhens) as well as new cohort Lucy Davis (that would be the Mudchick) will celebrate the start of the holiday season again this year with a studio sale to raise funds to feed the hungry. Hand-made ceramic bowls will be offered for $10 each as well as jams and chutneys for $5. Half of the proceeds from the sale of the bowls will go directly to the Emergency Food Network (EFN)*, the other half will benefit art projects in Pierce County .

Plan to stop by our studios for soup and hot apple cider on December 6, 7, 8 or 9. Purchase some bowls and jam and/or join us for a great holiday tradition of sharing with old friends and new.

Hours and directions:

Ginger Kryger’s studio in Ruston – 5211 N. Highland
December 6, 2008 -- 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 253.752-3041 for more information

Karen Craven’s studio on Fox Island – 995 Gway Drive
December 7, 8, 9, 2008 -- 12 noon – 3 p.m.
Phone: 253.549-4576 for driving directions and information

*For more information about the Emergency Food Network and the Empty Bowl event, visit their website: www.efoodnet.org

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Fall, 2008

About the Second Helping

I’ve been donating bowls for the “real” Empty Bowl event in Tacoma for 9 or 10 years. Empty Bowls is held to raise funds for the Emergency Food Network. Some years I donated 10 bowls; this year we (the Mudhens) donated 200 bowls. About three or four years ago, I called the man in charge to tell him I was bringing in 100 bowls for their event. After what could be called a “pregnant pause”, he said “Uhhh, that was last weekend.” I was temporarily devastated. But I figured it couldn’t be THAT hard to do a fundraising event. I had 100 bowls to sell; Second Helping was born. That first year we collected about $1100. It was so much work and so exhilarating.

David Ottey at the Emergency Food Network filled in some informational blanks for us. I had always thought that giving canned food and non-perishables was the best way to donate. But that is not always the case. The Emergency Food Network is like an umbrella unit; they give to many of the food banks we normally hear about. With their buying power and connections, they are able to take each dollar donated and “buy” $10 - $12 worth of food. Their overhead is extremely low (if you get a chance to visit them, be sure to check out David’s plywood desk.). They also participate in a farm in the Orting Valley thus providing fresh produce for their customers. This is only a fraction of what they can accomplish.

We try to donate at least half of the proceeds from the Second Helping to the EFN, but we usually end up sending them 75%. The remainder is used to support art in various ways and buy some supplies if needed. For two years we sent funds to the Urban Art Festival; this past summer we funded a raku firing at the Ruston Music Festival.

Our support group has grown. Bowls are sent to the Longbranch Improvement Club for a hunger event on Fat Tuesday. We send bowls to a wonderful group in Steilacoom for their Advent Event. Last year that group sold over 150 bowls.

The small Mudhen group has also grown. Originally, it was just Karen Craven and Ginger Kryger. This year, we are really fortunate to have Lucy Davis contributing her time, talent and energy (she’s the Mudchick—appropriate). Fall, especially November, is a crazy time for the Second Helpers. We have to wedge, throw, trim, bisque fire, wax, mix glaze, test glazes and finally glaze every single day for weeks! We used to buy all the supplies ourselves and fire our own kilns. We’re now able to fire about half of them elsewhere, and we have some supplies donated.

It is with great pleasure that we contribute in this way to our community at large. It is an even greater pleasure to offer our wares to you, our friends, family and neighbors. Thank you for your support.

Ginger Kryger Karen Craven Lucy Davis
Mudhen Mudhen Mudchick