Sav-a-Life director Jane Ward says this year’s dinner auction is one of the “most important ever” for the organization as they bring on medically trained staff members.

“We are in the process of going medical, which means actually having medical professionals on staff part time to conduct ultrasounds and other medical needs that we have here at the center,” Ward said. “We’re excited about that having the professional medical aspect of our center to grow and meet the needs of the citizens in Pike County … A great deal of what the auction brings in is going to go towards expanding our building so we can have an area that is strictly medical.”

The annual dinner and auction is the organization’s largest fundraiser and Ward said the organization relies on the support of the community to continue operating successfully.

“We’re thankful to the community for the help that they have given throughout the years hope they will continue to support us even more now that we’re expanding,” Ward said.

The fundraiser will be held Friday, March 2 at Park Memorial United Methodist Church. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a silent auction featuring hundreds of items. The dinner, a Low Country Boil, will begin at 6 p.m. and guest speaker Arlisha Williams-Myrie, a Christian author and publisher, will speak at 6:30 p.m.

“She is from Pike County living in Miami with her family,” Ward said. “She publishes Christian youth fiction. I became interested in having her come to speak to us because she addresses abortion, teen sexuality and teen pregnancy in her book from a Christian perspective. I have enjoyed reading them; they are very interesting books.”

The dinner auction will also include special music.

Tickets can be bought at Sav-a-Life at 523 S 3 Notch St. or may be available at Synco Drugs and Park Memorial United Methodist Church. Individual tickets are $25 and two tickets can be purchased together for $40. To get tickets the day of the event, call 465-0068.