NORTH WEBSTER — The Heart of the Community Auction and Dinner will be from 5-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the North Webster Community Center.

Its the 20th anniversary celebration of the annual fundraising auction. According to Emily Worrell, executive director of NWCC, this is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the center. NWCC has not had its annual auction and dinner since 2019, so she said, “We are excited to be back together.”

In the past, said Worrell, the fundraiser was enough to cover the center’s operation costs for an entire year. “We receive zero tax dollars,” Worrell said.

The event includes a silent and live auction, a big prize raffle, a 50-50 raffle, and dinner. The live auction consists of 50 items ranging from sporting event tickets to packages and an RV.

“The goal is to have the entire community coming together to celebrate,” she said. “We want to have something in every price range.”

There will be two silent auctions. By the night of the auction, Worrell said there will be close to 70 silent auction items for the attendees to bid on. Also, two gun raffles and a designer purse raffle will take place.

There will be $8,000 in cash prizes. There are four $500 cash prizes, three $1,000 cash prizes, and one $3,000 cash prize. In addition, someone will win gas for a year and another prize is for groceries for a year.

“We will be announcing our volunteer of the year,” she said. “We will also announce some big programs coming this fall. It’s amazing to see how the community comes together.”

Tickets cost $35. Tickets are available online or in person at Ace Hardware and Neighborhood Fresh.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and volunteers are still needed.

To get tickets and view auction items, visit nwcommunitycenter.org or to volunteer, call Worrell at (574) 834-1600.