Fifth graders on the Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus have been learning about local food insecurity, a lesson that culminated this week with an appearance at Feeding Northeast Florida’s annual Empty Bowls Luncheon.

The lesson began this fall with a campus presentation from Feeding Northeast Florida leaders. The nonprofit guests shared an insightful talk about their mission and local need, emphasizing hunger’s effects on the community and a stark reality – one out of four children in Northeast Florida go to bed hungry every night. Their visit set in motion a grade-wide service project to support Feeding Northeast Florida’s upcoming luncheon event. Under the direction of campus art teacher Jeanette Edwards and with the vision of Bolles parent and Empty Bowls Host Committee Member Jennifer Malhotra, students began work on the design of a piece of art to display at the luncheon. After discussing ideas and concepts, students decided on a cornucopia design. In the weeks that followed, each fifth grade student created a piece of art that was integrated into the sculpture. The finished cornucopia was later delivered to the organization to use as a display at the luncheon.

Four fifth-grade student ambassadors – Luke Malhotra '29, Bella Malhotra '29, MC Vaupel '29 and Camden Hendershot '29 – along with Edwards and Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus Head Stacey Hendershot attended the October 27 luncheon in downtown Jacksonville and represented Bolles’ spirit of giving with pride. The sculpture, titled “Cornucopia of Hope,” was exhibited by a large banner reading:

“The Bolles School has been a longstanding partner of Feeding Northeast Florida. We are thankful for the leadership of the administration, teachers and parents who have led student-run food drives and fundraisers to help our food bank fill the empty bowls in our community. Through the vision of Jennifer Malhotra, Bolles School parent and Empty Bowls Host Committee Member, the fifth grade students of the Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus created ‘The Cornucopia of Hope,’ a sculpture representing the life-giving gift of food which provides hope for a brighter tomorrow. The students who created this impressive and inspirational piece also participated in a presentation and discussion about food insecurity. The hope is that these children become inspired to lead their peers to help solve hunger in our community!”

Fifth-grade Bulldogs, we are proud of your servant leadership and dedication to serving others!