By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Pilsen community center was crowded Sunday with people wanting a meal and wanting to bid on auction items to raise money for charity.

This year’s 17th annual Holy Family Parish Charity Auction raised $18,000.

Committee member Sam Oborney said the event draws more people and makes more money each year. This year brought generous donors and generous bidders, she said. One donor even paid for newspaper advertising for the charity auction.

Visitors were served a meal of roast beef, ham, salads, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, cake, and drinks, then walked around the community center looking at items to be sold at auction. Before the live auction, they bid on silent auction items and bought raffle tickets.

The money raised by the event is used to help people parish members know are facing tragedy or high medical expenses, donated to Community Christmas, and given to community food banks.

“We don’t care where they go to church, or if they do or don’t go to church, or if they have a religion,” Oborney said. “We just care if they have a need. The church uses the money to help them.”