WINDHAM – With heating season approaching quickly, the nonprofit Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors is holding a fundraising dinner and auction next week to raise money for fuel expenditures for needy residents.

The “Charity Gala” will be held in the Roosevelt Room of Club 302 in North Windham Saturday, Sept. 17 from 5:30 p.m. to midnight.

Except for the cost of the dinner, all proceeds will go to the Neighbors group, which was formed in 2007 by local legislators Mark Bryant, Bill Diamond and Gary Plummer. The group reaches out to needy Windham residents by offering one-time fuel disbursements of 100 gallons. Qualifying clients, Diamond said, are either waiting to qualify for General Assistance or “somehow fall between the cracks” of government assistance programs.

According to the group’s treasurer, Norma Rogers, expenditures have doubled each year since the program has been in place. In 2008-2009, the group dispersed $5,124 for 19 clients. Two years ago, the group spent $11,618 with 44 clients. Last winter, 71 Windham residents received a heating fuel, adding up to $22,344 in assistance. This year, with fuel prices and demand expected to be equal to or higher than last year, Diamond estimates the group will spend about $27,000 on heating fuel.

“We had 71 clients last winter, which was just amazing, and we don’t know where they’d have gone without this organization,” Diamond said.

Saturday night’s inaugural charity gala, which Bryant said the group hopes to make an annual event, will feature three different entree offerings – chicken, veggie and fish. Local businesses have already committed thousands of dollars to reserve tables of eight or four, all proceeds of which go straight to the Neighbors’ fuel fund, Bryant said.

“We’re hoping to make this our major fundraiser for the year and raise what we will need over the year,” he said.

There are still a few seats available for the event, which starts at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour and silent auction on items ranging from jewelry donated by Windham Jewelers to a hotel stay at Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland. At 7 p.m., dinner will be served along with a Cabaret show featuring local performers.

At 8 p.m. a live auction and raffle takes place. Dancing follows from 9 p.m. to midnight. Individuals can attend for $50, or several tables accommodating four are still available for $500.