(Photo Provided) The 26th Empty Bowls of the Mid-Ohio Valley luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, 304 W. Fifth St., Williamstown. Participants will receive a handcrafted bowl for their meal while ticket donations will benefit local food banks.

WILLIAMSTOWN — The 26th annual luncheon of the Empty Bowls of the Mid-Ohio Valley will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, 304 W. Fifth St., Williamstown.

Donations for tickets are $15, $10 for children and free for children under 5. Proceeds from the tickets and a silent auction will benefit local food pantries.

The menu includes homemade soups, breads, freshly baked cookies and beverages. Attendees receive lunch and a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted bowl made by a local student, artist or hobbyist.

In addition to the meal, the luncheon will include a silent auction of food-related items.

Advance tickets are available through committee members Carol Garoza at garozac@marietta.edu or Mabry O’Donnell at odonnelm@marietta.edu or can be purchased at the Marietta Community Foundation. Tickets also will be sold at the door, although advance purchase is encouraged.

(Photo Provided) Handmade bowls are featured at an Empty Bowls of the Mid-Ohio Valley luncheon.

“We are so fortunate to live in such a caring and creative community,” O’Donnell said. “But for some families, even the basics can be a struggle. While many people generously support local food pantries, the need continues to outpace available resources.”

The Empty Bowls Luncheon began in 1990 in Michigan by an art teacher and residents to bring people together over a simple shared meal while raising awareness about hunger. Empty Bowls has since grown into a global movement with artists and crafters around the world raising millions of dollars for hunger-relief organizations.

Caroline Putnam founded the local Empty Bowls program in 2001.