Fifteen years and thousands and thousands of hand-made bowls of chili later, Empty Bowls remains one of the area’s biggest annual charities benefitting a local cause.

Monday evening, as in Februaries past, hundreds of people turned out at Cullman’s First United Methodist Church to play their part in the food bank fundraiser — whether as a volunteer, an entertainer, an organizer, or just a hungry diner.

“It’s going really good,” said a pleased Javon Daniel, who oversees the Cullman Caring for Kids Food Bank, the beneficiary of the proceeds. “We’ve had a crowd all night, and a lot of carry-outs. Lots of families here, and everybody’s having a good time. “This is the largest community fundraiser that we have each year.

“By the time it gets here every year, it’s just exciting. So many people work and prepare to get this event ready ahead of time, but when it was time to get going tonight, I asked them: ‘What do you want me to do?’ And they said, ‘Walk around and look pretty.’ 

“Well, I can’t look pretty — but I can certainly walk around.”

Beauty may indeed be in the eye of the beholder, but one thing’s a fact: over its 15-year lifespan, Empty Bowls has raised a figurative ton of money for the food bank, and helped purchased literal tons and tons of food.

Organizers say that each dollar raised at Empty Bowls can be used to purchase seven pounds’ worth of food. Raising money is the goal of the event and the reason it exists, but, said organizer Tanya Shearer, it’s grown into something more.

“This year, we will pass the $160,000 mark for our all-time fundraising. That’s a lot of chili, and a lot of bowls,” said Shearer.

“There’s just always a special spirit about this night. It’s just such a fabulous community event, as always. We’re all busy, and we may all go to different churches, but we can all come together tonight, to worship God and lift Him up.”

Daniel estimated the event brings together the efforts of more than 75 volunteers, many of whom are local potters who work throughout the year to make the one-of-a-kind keepsake bowls that come with the cost of a $10 meal ticket.

Shearer said the local artists who commit so much of their time, energy, and talent to make it all happen often go unsung amid the three-hour bustle that caps months and months of their hard behind the scenes work.

“I just can’t say enough about out potters and the devotion they give to this event, in an ongoing way, all year ‘round,” she said. “It warms your heart to stand back and realize all the work they do. And our community is just so wonderful; so supportive. Everybody plays a part. It’s just a special night.”