Last weekend, Currituck students used their artistic talents to raise money to help feed needy residents.

About 200 students Saturday took part in the second annual "Empty Bowls" project, which raised about $1,700 for the Food Bank of The Albemarle and the Knotts Island Food Pantry. Both agencies provide food assistance to area residents.

Empty Bowls is a national event that helps educate people about world hunger and encourages students to get involved. As part of the project, the students make handmade pottery bowls and sell them filled with soup. At Currituck High Saturday, guests paid $10 for a bowl of soup and a drink. Organizing the event locally were art teachers Anita Rubino-Thomas, Currituck High, and Lisa Doxey, Currituck Middle, with cooperation from the district's other art teachers.

Rubino-Thomas said students of all ages were encouraged to participate and she was pleased with the enthusiasm.

"The enthusiasm is growing with more students getting involved," said Rubino-Thomas, adding the project raised nearly double the amount it did last year. "It's really good to see the community come together on this."

Rubino-Thomas also said more seniors participated this year and some of them did their senior projects on hunger. She also thanked the Currituck Arts Council for donating money to buy the supplies needed to make the bowls.

According to Rubino-Thomas, the project also received a great deal of support from the county's Board of Education and school principals.

"The whole community is really rallying around it (Empty Bowls project) now," she said.