Muncie residents and Ball State students came together Wednesday afternoon to eat a hot, homemade chili meal while helping the community.
Ball State ceramic students, with help from the Atrium staff, have hosted the event for six consecutive years raising money for the Muncie Mission and Second Harvest Food Bank.
Last year the event brought in between $2,400 and $2,800 with nearly 500 bowls of soup served, Ted Neal, assistant professor of art, said. This year 607 bowls were prepared for the event and within the first hour, nearly half of the bowls made were already gone.
Customers got to pick out their own hand crafted ceramic bowl and choose between three types of chili: regular chili, vegetarian or white chicken. This year was the biggest turn out yet, Atrium Food Court General Manager Rod Brooks said.
Muncie local Monty Foist pointed to numerous bowls displayed across the table as he explained why he came to the chili bowl event.
"I came out to support my wife's old boss who takes the ceramics class at night and has made some of these bowls," he said.
Customers could pay for the meal with Cardinal Cash, credit or debit cards or cash. Ball State students could not use their meal plan for the ceramic bowls, which are not considered food by Ball State University.
Meal plans cannot be used for anything but food, Brooks said.
Not being able to use their meal plan for the event might have stopped some students from participating, but for the most part several students, including senior psychology major Lauren Moss, just used another forms of payment.
"The money is going to charity, and the chili is delicious," Moss said.
The event ended mid-afternoon with just a few bowls remaining.
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