By Marty Hastings

Fighting hunger

Westsyde Secondary raises bar at Empty Bowls fundraiser

Dec 6, 2025 | 10:02 AM

KAMLOOPS — Empty Bowls fundraisers are held around the world each year to raise money for organizations that fight for hunger relief. 

Westsyde Secondary raised more than $4,000 for the Kamloops Food Bank on Thursday (Dec. 4) during its Empty Bowls event. 

Students – who made bowls that were taken home by members of the large crowd that gathered – served food and provided entertainment inside the Rachel Bell Theatre. 

Master of Ceremonies Maddin Lidder said he is proud of how students with differing interests came together for a good cause. 

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He said art class made bowls, music class sold tickets and performed, textile class crafted cozies, woodwork class delivered items for the silent auction and leadership helped with sales. 

“I really think it’s just such a beautiful thing having everyone work for something that’s greater than us,” Lidder said. 

CFJC Today dropped by the school on Friday morning to hear from students such as Ava Roach. 

“I helped the Grade 8s make their bowls,” Roach said.

“We had slabs of clay. We would cut them out and assemble them. We would let them fire and paint them. So many people wanted to participate. Last year, we raised $3,000. We had $1,000 more this year. We’ve been going up by $1,000 each year. That’s pretty nice.”