The 17th annual Empty Bowls Dinner is set for Monday evening, and a group of volunteers gathered at First United Methodist Church Friday afternoon to prepare the bowls and kitchen for the always large crowd.

The event begins at 4 p.m. and will end at 6:30, and will offer a bowl of chili and grilled cheese to benefit the Cullman Caring for Kids Food Bank’s mission of helping the children in the community.

Tickets, which will be available at the door, are $10 per plate, and meals can be eaten inside or be taken home.

Along with the meal, everyone who buys a ticket will be able to keep the handmade clay bowl that the chili will be served in. More than 1,000 bowls are made each year by a group of local potters who work year-round to make sure there are enough to serve at the annual event.

The bowl is meant to serve as a reminder for everyone throughout the year to think of the people in their community who are less fortunate, said Empty Bowls coordinator Tanya Shearer.

“You can eat out of it or you can sit it on your desk, but hopefully it will help you remember the people who don’t have enough to eat,” she said.

While the food and bowls are what bring people in, there is also a silent auction to help raise more money for Caring for Kids, as well as live music to entertain everyone who attends, Shearer said.

She said this year’s Empty Bowls will have the biggest silent auction that the event has ever had, and many businesses, organizations and individuals have donated items that will be available.

Southern gospel music for this year’s Empty Bowls will be provided by Enell Baker, Joyful Hearts, The Potentials and FUMC Gospel Singers and four players from Ben South’s new production, “The One-Liner American Diner,” will be on hand to perform a revue from the work.

Shearer said it takes a lot of time and effort by many people — from the potters making bowls, musicians performing at the event and volunteers who help out in may ways — and God’s hand has been in Empty Bowls since the beginning to help bring it all together.

“It’s a whole community effort,” she said. “We’re just blessed to be a part of it, part of His work.”

Cullman Caring for Kids Executive Director Javon Daniel said Empty Bowls usually brings in around $12,000 for food bank, and it’s humbling and gratifying for everyone in the organization to see how many people attend to help the area’s children.

He said he always tells people that Cullman residents step up and fill a need when they see one, and this event is just one example that proves him right.

“It’s just a blessing for us,” he said.

The annual Cullman Caring for Kids food bank fundraiser is Monday from 4-6:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. Meals are $10.