DESERT AIRE - The annual Mattawa Area Food Bank fund-raising dinner and dessert auction will be held on Saturday, July 2, at the Sagebrush Senior Center in Desert Aire.

This will be the fifth edition of the dinner and dessert. It will get under way at 5 p.m. and end about 7 p.m.

The menu will feature pizza, green salad, home-made French bread twists with dipping sauce, and fruit. A $5 donation is asked to cover the cost of dinner.

The auction items are 40-50 desserts (cookies, pies, flan, cupcakes,cakes and more) made by members of the community. The silent auction will begin at 5 p.m. There will also be a live auction, with Don Armstrong doing the calling.

"We have a lot of fun," said food bank board member Linda Strand.

"It will be the July 4 weekend," she added. "We hope people will come by for a dessert to share with their family and friends."

Strand noted that 15-20 of the "most fantastic" desserts are set aside for the live auction. The best cake in the past four years went for $80.

The best overall night so far has been $1,350. All funds raised are used to help families in need.

"The food bank is currently distributing food from a temporary location," Strand noted. "Thanks to the generosity of our community, we are looking forward to moving into our new facility in the very near future."

Persons who would like to donate a dessert to the cause may call Strand at 932-5642 or Linda Mulcahy at 932-4373. Or you may simply deliver your dessert offering to the Sagebrush Senior Center by 2 p.m. on July 2.