Catherine Prestigiovanni, director of strategic development for Tri-County behavioral healthcare, and Janet Kasper, program director at Community Youth Outreach, coordinate Montgomery County Homeless Coalition fundraiser details with Lone Star College-Montgomery ceramics professor Robby Wood.

The ceramics lab at Lone Star College-Montgomery is fired
up as students from the college and area high schools are molding their efforts to make 300 bowls for the upcoming Empty Bowls fundraiser held Wednesday, November 18, at the Conroe Tower in downtown Conroe.  Sponsored by the Montgomery County Homeless Coalition (MCHC), the luncheon is one of many events held to raise awareness and funds to support the homeless. Money raised from selling the bowls goes toward MCHC programs.

LSC-Montgomery students have made bowls to donate to the Empty Bowls event for 15 years, but this is the third consecutive year in a row that the funds raised go to the MCHC.

“This isn't just our college students,” said Robby Wood, LSC-Montgomery ceramics professor.  "We have students from several area high schools pitching in to create the bowls. Our goal is to donate 300 bowls this year, which is 100 more than last year.”

LSC-Montgomery ceramics student Ed Maready is no stranger to working with clay and has a vested interest in this cause – he is also a substance abuse counselor. He believes the bowls are reminders to their owners of the talent behind the creation and the benefits from their donation.

“Each bowl is unique because of the artist and the care they put into their craft,” he said.

Janet Kasper, program director of Community Youth Outreach, an affiliate of MCHC, thanks the students for donating their time and talent. She added that the event is a good way to get the works of our local art students in the hands of Montgomery County citizens and leaders in the community.  

“People come to us from a variety of backgrounds," said Kasper.  "It’s not always your stereotypical set of circumstances in which people may find themselves homeless. Asking for help is hard for some people, and we are here to help educate and raise awareness about the homeless in Montgomery County." 

For more information about the LSC-Montgomery art department, visit lonestar.edu/art-dept.htm.

LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.

Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for more than 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion.  Today, with almost 83,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 95,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and one of the fastest-growing community college systems in the nation.  Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSC, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, seven centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.