Kids Pottery Day will fire up Jan. 25

On Saturday, Jan. 25, Holmes County Friends and Neighbors of OneEighty will hold their annual Kids Pottery Day from 9 a.m. to noon at West Holmes Middle School, 10901 state Route 39, Millersburg. All ages from 3 up to and including adults are welcome, with a cost of $15 per piece of pottery.

The event has been a regular January fundraiser for the nonprofit for the past 18 years.

“One member of the then-Every Woman’s House Board, Leslie Knowling, asked her daughter Amy Rohr, a West Holmes Middle School art teacher, if she could think of an event for children involving art,” said Eleanor Runyan, a Friends and Neighbors board member. “Amy had the idea for the Kids Pottery Day.”

It was decided to hold the event each January — a month when there is usually very little going on. As the event evolved, adults often wanted to attend with their children and make a piece of pottery, so the event was opened to all ages.

Each attendee receives a slab of clay and glazes in a variety of colors. There are examples to use if desired but no restrictions as to what may be made. Art students are on hand to assist as needed, and OneEighty volunteers keep any needed art supplies at the ready. Runyan said most pottery pieces take about 30 minutes to complete, depending on the level of detail. There is no time limit during the event.

No advance reservations are needed to attend. The event usually welcomes 60-90 individuals, mostly kids between the ages of 3 to early teen. After the pottery pieces are fired, they are delivered to Holmes County schools and the OneEighty offices in Millersburg and Wooster.

Materials used for the pottery day are donated, which allows all profits to go directly to OneEighty’s programming.

Holmes County Friends of OneEighty is a service organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness to aid victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and addiction.

Runyan said, “The name OneEighty originates from the idea of helping people to change the direction of their lives.”

New members of Holmes County Friends and Neighbors of OneEighty are always welcome. To join or for questions regarding the event, call or email Runyan at 330-231-1165 (call or text) or ebrunyan@gmail.com.