Auburn Young Life presents its first annual Oktoberfest Auction from 6-9 p.m. Saturday at the Muckleshoot Casino Banquet Center, 2402 Auburn Way S.

Featured are silent and live auctions, with items ranging from the $25 to $2,500. The live auction includes desserts donated by the Muckleshoot Tribe.

Proceeds support the ministry that touches more than 500 kids from Auburn’s three high schools and five middle schools, including North Tapps.

Young Life is a worldwide, nonprofit, Christian organization devoted to build relationships with teenagers through a variety of social interactions, formal and informal events, and group trips in order to evangelize and teach Christian thought.

The idea for an Oktoberfest Auction arose when Young Life staff and committee members wanted to get creative with how they raise money for the area.

“Auburn is known for being a town that loves and supports kids, and enjoys celebrating together,” said area director Kim Olsen. “The goal of this event is for Young Life to connect to the community, for the community to show their support for teens in Auburn, as well for everyone to have an incredible night of fun celebrating the fall, and perhaps even purchasing a few gifts for the upcoming holiday season.”

Young Life in Auburn is supported by two full-time and one part-time staff, but is mainly a volunteer-led organization. There are more than 60 Young Life volunteer leaders and 12 committee members reaching out to more than 500 Auburn-area kids each week.

Through weekly meetings called “club,” small groups, summer camps, weekend excursions and one-on-one time with kids, Young Life leaders in Auburn are building unconditional relationships with teenagers.

Last summer, local Young Life leaders took more than 200 high school and middle school kids from Auburn to camp. Leaders set aside a week to focus exclusively on the young friends they built relationships with all year.

Of the kids who went, 30 worked for scholarships to help pay their way to camp, and Young Life raised more than $20,000 to underwrite the cost of camp for participants.

Auction tickets are $35 and may be purchased through the Young Life office at 253-735-3247 or at the door. The ticket price includes food and entertainment.

Community members who wish to donate funds, services or products, may do so by contacting auction chair member Jackie Higgins at 253-333-0810 through Saturday.

For more information about the auction, contact Higgins (jackie.higgins@mlsfunding.com). For more information about Young Life programs in Auburn, please contact the office at 253-735-3247 or maindesk@auburn.younglife.org.