ELLENDALE — Adults will have a worthwhile excuse to have a child-free night out when the NRHEG parent-teacher organization hosts its annual Community Night Out on March 17 at Wedgewood Cove in Albert Lea.

According to Jodi Wayne, PTO vice president and auction committee member, there will be raffles, games and silent and live auctions, as well as appetizers and a cash bar.

The events will begin at 5 p.m. with the silent auction and social hour, with the live auction following at 7 p.m. with auctioneer Tracy Holland.

Raffles will include a wall of wine and a split-the-pot raffle. For $20, guests can buy a wine raffle ticket, which will allow them to take home a bottle of donated wine. The value of the bottle may or may not be above the price of the ticket, but Wayne said one lucky winner will find $50 attached to their bottle. The split-the-pot raffle tickets are $20 each. Half of the ticket price goes to the PTO, and the rest is won by the raffle winner. Last year’s winner took home $520.

The event is one of two fundraisers the organization hosts each year. Along with Community Night Out, cookie dough sales by elementary students help sustain the group and its efforts to support the teachers and students of NRHEG Elementary School.

Last year’s event raised $44,000, which was used to support NRHEG students and staff. The funding from the event, along with cookie dough sales, has been used to add landscaping to the playground, including trees, mulch and concrete walkways; purchase five projectors for classrooms, provide a Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre experience for students in second to sixth grade, make a contribution to the physical education department for roller skate rentals, help fund field trips and help pay for teacher requests and supplies, among others.

Wayne said the success of both events has also allowed them to contribute to high school events as well, including donations to the After Prom Committee and the NRHEG High School play.

Items up for grabs at the event include concert tickets to Kenny Chesney and Jimmy Buffett; tickets to Minnesota Timberwolves, Lynx, Twins, St. Paul Saints and Gophers basketball and hockey games for the 2018-19 season; hotel/waterpark stays, a wine fridge, and more. Items can still be donated, as well.

Donors will be recognized in the Community Night Out auction booklet if received prior to March 15.

Tickets for the event can be purchased prior to the event for $10 at NRHEG schools, State Bank of New Richland, First National Bank in Ellendale, Commerce Bank in Geneva and Farmers State Bank in Hartland. Tickets will also be available at the door for $15.

For more information on the NRHEG PTO, visit the group’s page on Facebook. For more information on Community Night Out, including how to make a donation, call Wayne at 507-456-4015.