The Empty Bowl Project has grown in popularity.

More than 3,000 bowls waited to be filled at the 13th annual Austin Empty Bowl Project Sunday.

Every Sunday before Thanksgiving, thousands of potters from all over Central Texas donate bowls to the project, and every Sunday before Thanksgiving thousands of individuals come to buy them.

Money raised at the event benefits the Capital Area Food Bank's Kids Cafe program, an after-school program that provides hot nutritious meals for school-aged children across Central Texas.

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Over the years, the Empty Bowl Project has grown in popularity.

"This is definitely an Austin tradition that means a lot to our community. We have folks who have been here all 13 years, start getting in line several hours before the doors open," Kerri Qunell, with the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, said.

Chad Adams and Cierra Black learned about those long lines the hard way.

"We came last year, and we arrived at 10:30, and we were about 150 yards that way. By the time we got inside, we were only allowed to get one bowl per person, because the supply was running low," Adams said.

This year, the two arrived hours before doors opened to find that perfect bowl.

"They get to take the bowl home with them as a reminder of those in our community who might not have food in their bowls," Qunell said.

Adams said he uses his bowl from the 2008 Empty Bowl Project every time he eats chili.

The Capital Area Food bank said its partner agencies are seeing a 60 percent higher demand for food compared to the same time last year.

For more information, visit Austin Empty Bowl ProjectAustinFoodBank.org.