Hundreds of bowls created by area students and artists were filled to the brim with hot soup Saturday afternoon to support the homeless. Family Promise of Summit County hosted its first fundraiser — Empty Bowl — at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Fairlawn.

Members of the church's youth ministry filled each bowl with homemade soups for guests to enjoy. Supporters were allowed to keep the 143 bowls that students and professors from the University of Akron made for the event. ''We have to make the clay, put it on the potter's wheel, glaze it and fire it in a kiln,'' artist and organizer Rhiannon Barnes said.

Donating artists included Cheryl Sheppard, Donna Webb, Beth Lindenberger, Al Piery, Bob Barrett, David Pluck, Fiona Christie, Richard Peterson, Susie Lily, Hannah Magrum, Jessica Sexton, Rachel Reinhardt, Chip Lucas and Jim Spires.

''This will help further our cause by raising awareness of the plight of nontraditional families who are in need and happen to be homeless,'' Family Promise Executive Director Pam Betty said.