A Tradition Shaped by Many Hands

Aaron Blackwelder’s story is a testament to how passion, skill, and kindness can intersect in powerful ways.

It began with a decision in 1999 when his wife, Abbye, wanted to take a class at Surry Community College. The options were cake decorating, ballroom dancing, or pottery. For Aaron, the choice was easy. Pottery felt like the perfect fit — though he had no idea it would lead him on a lifelong journey of creativity, community, and compassion.

What began in a laundry room-turned-studio with a single wheel, a few tools, and a kiln quickly grew into a thriving passion. Over time, Aaron became not only a potter but also a mentor, guiding students with patience and encouragement drawn from his own early experiences learning the craft. Today, his classroom is a place where people discover the joy of creation and find confidence in their own voice through clay.

Visit Aaron’s studio, and you’ll hear everything from Eminem to Broadway show tunes — a reflection of the joy and creativity that fill the space. For Aaron, pottery isn’t just about making beautiful pieces. It’s about crafting functional works of art meant to be used, cherished, and enjoyed.

In 2010, at a pottery show in Catawba County, a Second Harvest Food Bank volunteer asked if Aaron would donate bowls to the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser. His answer was an emphatic “YES!” — beginning a meaningful connection with Second Harvest and its mission of nourishing neighbors while opening pathways to opportunity through workforce development.

For Abbye, a teacher who has seen firsthand the impact of hunger in her students’ lives, that connection was deeply personal. Many of her students benefited from Second Harvest’s BackPack Program, which sends children home with nutritious meals for the weekend during the school year. Through that experience, Aaron and Abbye saw the very real impact of programs that support families like the ones in Abbye’s classroom.

“There’s a direct connection between what I create in my studio and feeding my wife’s students,” Aaron says. “I love Empty Bowls! The bowls in people’s cabinets or on tabletops are a tangible reminder of the role they play in the amazing work the organization does every day.”

For 25 years, Empty Bowls has reflected a simple truth inspired by the stone soup story: when each of us contributes what we can, something powerful is created for all.

What began as a shared meal has grown into a lasting community tradition — one that supports both immediate food access and pathways to opportunity through Second Harvest’s Providence programs.

This year’s 25th anniversary celebration features a curated menu of soups inspired by the event’s history, thoughtfully prepared by Providence chefs and students. Each ticket includes two servings of soup and two handcrafted pottery bowls created by artists from Sawtooth School for Visual Art, local artisans, and community partners — lasting reminders of the role we each play in nourishing our neighbors.

As we mark this milestone year, we honor the many hands — including Aaron and Abbye’s — that have shaped Empty Bowls and invite you to help carry the story forward.