Generosity and community service have no age limit. Mary Beth Carosello, an art teacher at Warner Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles, inspired her fifth grade class to participate in the Empty Bowls project—a grassroots movement that uses art to alleviate hunger.

“I wanted to do something to show the kids that art can make a difference,” she explained.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the messy project of designing, creating and decorating bowls and were able to raise almost $900 for the Food Bank. They had planned to sell their bowls at a school function, but when they took the bowls home, their parents fell in love with the art and bought every single bowl!

Mary Beth believes it is important to include lessons about community service in her art class. “Working in art education, I’ve had a lot of students and I know that some of them have come from food insecure households,” she explains. “How are they supposed to learn? How are they supposed to focus if they’re thinking about where their next meal is coming from?”

Mary Beth is a real inspiration, instilling the spirit of giving in her students.

No contribution is too small. Together we can make a difference for those struggling in Los Angeles.