From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. you can try out a smorgasbord of yummies at the big community gathering, which raises money for the Mayfield-Graves County Food Pantry. The eating extravaganza will be held at Trace Creek Baptist Church’s Family Life Center, 3357 State Route 131.

For a $15 ticket each diner gets to pick from a mixture of a unique bowls to gather samples of the goodies. After eating, participants take the bowls home as a reminder of hungry people around the world and in their own community.

Participating restaurants this year are: A&B BBQ, Carr’s Steakhouse, Cracker Barrel, Dairy Queen, Dinner Bell, Domino’s, Happy House, Hardee’s, Larry, Darrel & Darrel, Majestic Pizza and Steak House, Mayfield Creek Market, Red’s Donut Shop of Mayfield, Rita’s Café, Snappy Tomato, Southern Red’s BBQ, Taco John’s, The Catfish House, Wendy’s, Wilma’s Kountry Kitchen, and Wings, Etc.

“Each year we have been blessed to have 20 of the local restaurants donate their time and food to help us raise funds to feed the hungry of our county” said Claudia Heath, who started the local effort and has served as project coordinator each year. Local businesses donate to sponsor the cost of the bowls and that allows us to give 100 percent of the ticket money to the local pantry. The church graciously donates the facility. This is truly a community effort to help those who need the safety net provided by the pantry.”

In addition to all the food tasting, there will be a silent auction and door prizes donated by local merchants and individuals. There are about 20 silent auction items including paintings by local artists, unique home décor items, jewelry and one of a kind items donated by local artisans.

Local businesses and individuals donating auction and door prizes to date are: The Artisan Event, King’s Antiques and Florist, Stone’s Drug Store, Duncan’s Drugs, Broadway Flowers & Gifts, Food Giant, The Frosted Farmhouse, plus 12 local artists. And more items are being donated every day.

Tickets are available at the Trace Creek Church office, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., M-F; The Good News Shoppe, 203 E. South St., M-Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; or the Mayfield Food Pantry, S. 9th St., Mon.-Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon. For 10 or more tickets call Heath at 270-705-6062.

Tickets will be available at the door as long as there are enough bowls to accommodate diners. About 1,000 persons are expected to attend.

The past four years the event has raised about $50,000 for the Food Pantry, which provides emergency food supplies for about 350 local needy families each month.

“It is my belief that in this great county of ours, no one should go hungry,” Heath noted. “And if someone has a need, then we as a community have a responsibility to help in any way we can. I urge you to mark your calendars and come have lunch with us that day. If you attend once, I just know you will be back the next year.”

“We are so thankful for this great fund-raiser that has provided needed money for the Food Pantry to keep assisting local residents,” said Food Pantry Director Jackie Herndon. “We encourage everyone to come out and support this event and have a great time for a great cause, helping our neighbors in need.”

The Empty Bowls project is an international effort started some 20 years ago to help alleviate hunger and raise awareness of the issues of hunger around the world.