A central Illinois non-profit is inviting its communities to participate in an online auction that is an extension of its biggest fundraiser that comes up next weekend.

On the WHOW Morning Show Thursday, Director of Agency Development at Community Action, Breann Titus told Regional Radio the agency's upcoming Cheeseburger in Paradise kicked off its first online auction Wednesday morning.

Titus reminds Cheeseburger in Paradise is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Community Action. It's a Jimmy Buffet-themed gathering of 400 to 500 of their supporters from across its service area with food and drinks served throughout the night.

Cheeseburger in Paradise is a great opportunity for Community Action to raise money that can go towards any area of its budget that might need an infusion of funding. Titus explains because they are mostly funded by grant dollars, those funds have to be used for specific purposes.

According to Titus, they are going to seek to focus on getting clients for cancer treatments out of town. She explains they can offer that transportation currently but it's $75 a trip. While the agency still loses money on that ride, most of its clients still can't afford it.

Last year's Cheeseburger in Paradise was a banner year for the event, raising nearly double what it typically averages. The excursions and trips they offered in the auction portion of the evening helped increase the money raised. Titus points out, those are back again this year and she is looking forward to matching, if not exceeding, last year's money raised.

Find all the online auction items available by finding Community Action on Facebook or visiting capcil.info and finding the live online auction tab just down from the agency header on the home page.