WHAM Art Association will play host to its eighth annual Bowls of Hope Charity Event from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 3 at the WHAM Community Art Center, 16560 N. Dysart Road.

At this event WHAM will sell handmade bowls to give funds to local food banks for people in need, and provides funds to a home for battered women, a shelter for victims of human trafficking and shelters for veterans and teens in the West Valley.

The event will include an artist’s bazaar and also feature an exhibition in the gallery by Ugandan artist Brian Bugembe and an open call to artists for their best “Slice of Life: People at Work and Play” works.

Brian Bugembe is a young artist living in Kampala, Uganda. He graduated in 2011 from Naggenda International Academy of Art and Design with a focus in fine arts. He specializes in cultural paintings, African abstract art, beaded mosaics, and other handicrafts.

These handmade clay bowls are sold for $12 each during the holidays to make money to give to charity. This event gives to West Valley charities such as: Eve’s Place, Valley View Food Bank, St. Mary’s Food Bank, StreetlightUSA; Teen Connection; and veteran’s homeless shelters.

WHAM founder Connie Whitlock stated that the art association hopes to make $4,000 this year to divide up among the six charities. Last year COVID-19 limited attendance but WHAM was still able to give out $2,200.

St Mary’s Food Bank Alliance reports that one in five Arizonans, one in four children, and one in seven seniors live in poverty.

Members of WHAM are busy getting ready for this yearly event. These volunteers are hand building, throwing clay on wheels and glazing food safe bowls that will be on display for Bowls of Hope. The goal is to have hundreds of bowls available for the community to select from.

For information, visit www.wham-art.org or contact Connie Whitlock or David Fudge at 623-584-8311. Brian Bugembe’s website is www.brianartz.com