FAIRHOPE, Ala. — If you believe Punxsutawney Phil, the groomed groundhog who saw his shadow last Saturday, we're in for six more weeks of winter. Despite the prognostication from Gobbler's Knob, however, relief is just around the corner.

The eighth annual Chili for Charity, a fund-raiser for Ecumenical Ministries Inc., will bring warmth to hearts and stomachs Saturday, Feb. 16, from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., at Oak Hollow Farm on U.S. Highway 98, south of Fairhope.

EMI Executive Director Jennifer Crawford said, “It's a big event for us because it raises a substantial amount of money. Donations are slow in the summer, and we hope it raises a lot of money for the agency and the communities it serves.”

Tickets are $7 for adults (ages 13 and up) and $3 for children, ages 3 through 12. If you would like a chili bowl created especially for the event, the cost is $30 and includes a ticket.

Blind Dog Mike will perform, said Darlene Smith, EMI community liaison. Also planned are a display of antique cars and tractors, hayrides, pony rides, a petting zoo, games and other children's activities. Chick-Fil-A will offer sandwiches for sale, and their cow mascot will be on hand to pose for photos.

A bake sale will feature homemade cookies, cakes, pies and bread, made by the ladies of Mount Aid Baptist Church and others.

But, chili is the star of the show. In 2007, 39 teams competed to determine which had the tastiest, raising around $30,000 for the United Way of Baldwin County affiliated agency, after expenses.

A panel of judges will again decide who takes home the honors. A special People's Choice award will be given to the team that receives the most votes from attendees. Each vote costs $1.

Participants will also compete for best booth, best aprons and bragging rights for the next 12 months.

Chili for Charity is a popular event, but it had humble beginnings. Smith said, “Tom Jones (a Clay City potter) approached us and said he would like to do something for us. We put our heads together and decided a chili cook-off would be a good idea, and Tom would make the bowls.”

Jones is again crafting the prizes for all the team, booth and People's Choice award winners, but he has otherwise passed the kiln to another. Jones said he needed to take a smaller role, but wanted to remain involved in the effort.

“I think we wore him out,” Smith said with a laugh.

Erica Bodine, a second generation potter who lives in midtown Mobile, is furnishing 300 bowls for this year's event, creating them individually on a potter's wheel in the tried and true process known as throwing clay.

The Tulsa, Okla. native has been an artist for 10 years, and has taught children and adults how to make pottery for the last eight. She is also involved with the Eastern Shore Art Center's ABC project, which brings art into the classroom, incorporating it into various areas of learning.

“Everyone seems to be in good spirits when they come,” Crawford said. “It's a relaxed environment, good music and it's for a good cause.”

EMI provides a number of services for the less fortunate, including prescription assistance, help with paying utilities and rent, home repair, Meals on Wheels and a food pantry. The group also deals with transportation issues and affordable housing.

Crawford said, “It's a community agency that provides some form of assistance throughout our communities to those in some sort of crisis situation. We help our clients with their crisis situation without taking full responsibility. We let our client help with their solution.

“The majority of our clients are individuals who contribute to our community, but don't have health insurance and have low-paying jobs.”

It's not too late to sign up as a team or a sponsor so you can be a part of the solution. Crawford said, “There are a lot of new teams this year, and we're excited about that.”

If you would like to field a team, the entry fee is $25 for families and $55 for businesses, organizations and churches. Each team must prepare five gallons of chili.

A local congregation, St. Stephens Church, has split the duties among several of its team members, and they will each cook a portion using the same chili recipe, making it easier to whip up a batch of their finest.

Smith said, “We want real estate agencies to challenge other real estate agencies and attorneys to challenge other attorneys. We've got room to grow. We'd like to have 50 teams this year.”

Sponsorships start at $300. Joe and Em Johnson are the main event sponsors for the second year. Many others are on board as well.

“Now all we have to do is pray for good weather,” Smith said. A contingency plan is in place in case the conditions are less than ideal.

Chili for Charity entry forms, rules, tickets and sponsorship details are available at EMI offices in Fairhope and Foley. Tickets are also available at the event.

For more information, call (251) 928-3430 or (251) 943-3445. You may also visit www.baldwinemi.com.