Sometimes a little bit of fashion, community awareness and the resources of an art school can combine to do great things to fight hunger, and make you look great in the kitchen.

Such ambitions motivated Ginnie Dunleavy to come up with Project Apron. Dunleavy, director of retail and dining at RISD, is the woman behind a design-athon and apron auction which will raise funds to help fill the shelves at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

The event is at 7 Friday night and is part of RISD Dining’s C.A.R.E.S Program, whose mission is to integrate sustainability into campus dining, highlight community action and recycling.

Louella Hill, Project Apron event coordinator, said work has been going on for about four months, and credits Dunleavy with thinking big.

“She has neat ideas of how to connect parts of the community. She’s worrying about those who are hungry and knows that we make a difference. Instead of a food drive, she had the idea to put these artists to work and get them to create as their way to fight against local hunger.”

Dunleavy said she came up with Project Apron as a knockoff of Project Runway.

“Many members of the dining staff (myself included) are hooked on the show,” she said. “When we would be chatting about it often students would jump in with their thoughts on the show. This is not the norm and was the fuel for this idea.”

She went to the Student Alliance to gauge student interest.

“The SA president, an apparel student, gave a big ‘thumbs-up’ and agreed to produce an apron. Which she has.”

She and some 50 other students and staff at RISD took a plain white bib-style apron, donated by Falvey Linen of Cranston, and created one-of-a-kind art pieces. Some are dyed, others decorated.

Many will be modeled on a runway in the Metcalf Dining Hall, 30 Waterman St., Providence, and some will be displayed. Models will include students and a representative from the Big Nazo Puppets. They will be auctioned off by Bill Rappleye from Channel 10 News.

The auction is open to the public, but guests are asked to bring one non-perishable food item for admission. Free parking is available in RISD lots.

The Rhode Island farmers are involved as well. Half the money raised will buy fresh fruits and vegetables through Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s Holiday Food Drive. This fresh food will go to the Food Bank. Farmers have agreed to match all food purchases with an equal amount of donated goods, to be spread throughout the upcoming year.

“Providing an opportunity to focus on such a great cause in a creative way builds community,” Dunleavy said.

“The aprons are eclectic and I am sure we will be able to make a nice contribution to the Food Bank,” she said.

Dunleavy is already thinking about next year when she may reach out to alumni to design some aprons.

gciampa@projo.com