North Webster Community Center Heart of the Community Charity Auction is coming Oct. 3 at the center, 301 N. Main St. (SR 13). Winner of the big raffle can choose between a car, a pontoon, a UTV or $10,000. Some of the prizes are displayed in front of the center.

NORTH WEBSTER — It is that time of year when fun and excitement descend on North Webster in a big way. It is the North Webster Community Center Heart of the Community Charity Auction & Raffle.

It will be going on from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at the center, 301 N. Main St. (SR 13) in the former North Webster School building in the middle of downtown.

One of the biggest single evening events held annually in Kosciusko County, some tickets are still available for the auction. Tickets can be purchased at the center office near the east entrance of the building and at several area businesses.

For the $25 ticket, the holder gains admittance, a delicious catered dinner and a chance to bid on hundreds of silent and live auction items. Ticket holders are also entered in the big raffle for prizes.

The grand prize raffle winner can choose between a car, a pontoon, a UTV or $10,000. Second prize raffle winner will take home $200 a month for a year in gift certificates to NewMarket Grocery while third prize earns $100 a month in fuel for a year from Freedom Express. Winners do not have to be present to claim these raffle prizes.

The 2014 Ford Escape is sponsored by The Car Company, the 2016 Bennington pontoon by Main Channel Marina, and the 2015 UTV Polaris Ranger by Loose Moose Motor Sports.

The dinner is catered by The Cake Lady Catering and will be served in the center’s banquet hall buffet style from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Cash bars will be open all evening and are manned by The Sleepy Owl.

Hundreds of silent auction items will be available to bid on, as well as live auction items under the gavel of Brian Wuthrich, Hahn Auctioneers. From jewelry to campers, art to a good truck, home decor to sports equipment, name it and it will be sold.

It takes a village of volunteers to make the evening a successful fundraiser for the North Webster Community Center. Usually more than 1,000 folks attend the festivities to enjoy their friends and neighbors, and to see who gets what.

One-third of the NWCC annual budget is usually raised during the event. North Webster Community Center is a non-profit organization run by a volunteer board of directors. It does not receive tax dollars for support. The lights stay on, the building is operated and maintained and programs are provided through donations and fundraisers.

Event sponsors not already mentioned include Bart’s WaterSports, Remington Products, Town of North Webster, RVBUSINESS.com and The Papers Inc.

Free parking is available on a first come first served basis on the east side of the center and across SR 13 in the parking lot behind the North Webster Church of God.