This Week in Photos: The Mug That Keeps Giving

More than 600 bowls and mugs were sold at the Empty Mugs fundraiser earlier this month, thanks to Oberlin’s Pottery Co-op and community volunteers who supplied the hand-sculpted pieces. 

Creating the mugs for the event involves many hours, but the end result is the gift that keeps giving. All proceeds are donated to the Oberlin Community Services, which provides local residents with access to utilities, food, and housing. This year, sales from Empty Mugs raised more than $8,000 for the local organization.

Helen Schrayer ’22 has been involved in the Pottery Co-op since her first year at Oberlin. In fact, “it was a big part of why I decided to come to Oberlin College,” she says. 

“This tradition is great because it increases co-op camaraderie and student engagement with Oberlin Community Services,” says Schrayer. “It's hard to tell how many students donated pieces,” explains Schrayer. “But our top student potter made 150 mugs and bowls. Most active co-op members donated at least a few pots.”

We continue our photo tour with stops along the Fall Art Walk; find a carpet seat at Bassoon Christmas; make a graceful Fall Forward; find pitch in Fairchild Chapel; perform community service at OCS; and end with a gift of service. 

This Week in Photos is a selection of images and is not meant to represent a weekly timeline. Images highlight campus, community, people, and events related to Oberlin College.