The aromatic smell of food filled the air as shuffling lines moved forward. People of all size and age slowly moved through Lewis-Palmer High School, eagerly awaiting dinner and a bowl to support an important cause in the process.

The Empty Bowl Dinner is an annual event held at Lewis-Palmer High School where participants received dinner, a handmade bowl from one of several local artists and the opportunity to participate in a silent auction. All of the profits went to local Kiwanis Clubs and Tri-Lakes Cares.

“The event was about raising money for Tri-Lakes Cares and eating soup,” Leann Loche, a sophomore and a member of Key Club, said.

Attendees were given a ticket and waited in the auditorium for their groups to be called. Once called, they were taken to a room full of hundreds of different bowls to select. Some were even made by students in the art program at Lewis-Palmer High School.

The bowls varied in shape and size. Some were shallow and jagged while others were deep and more traditional pottery. The colors of the bowls varied widely as well, and there was even a separate table of bowls made by young children.

The next stop was the cafeteria where six different soups, bread and a variety of donated deserts were offered. While eating in the commons, attendees could browse through the various baskets of goods and art pieces to be auctioned.

Both Lewis-Palmer High School and Palmer Ridge High School supported the event by sending members of their respective Key Clubs to volunteer. Key Club is a student organization, sponsored by the local Kiwanis club, which provides opportunities for students to volunteer at different events.

“It’s a lot of fun to work with the other Key Club members and serve people,” Tirzah Petropulos, a sophomore at Lewis-Palmer, said. “It’s like being a waitress without getting paid.”

Aside from the bowls and food, there was also other reasons to attend the event. A choir sang during the dinner, and a member of the community played the piano while participants waited for their groups to be called.

The event was a success with Monument Hills Kiwanis Club expecting to know the total amount raised by the end of October.