Austin High School’s Key Club hopes to make $1,000 this weekend for the March of Babies.

The club organized its first-ever Silent Auction and Soup Supper to benefit the March of Babies this year. It will be held Sunday, March 28 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 802 Fourth St. SW. The silent auction is 4 to 6:15 p.m., and the soup supper serves from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

“We thought this would be a good way to involve the community in Key Club efforts,” said Kelsey Stough, president of the AHS student group.

The student group, which has about 20 members, is supported by the Austin Noon Kiwanis and raises money for the march every year with various fundraising efforts.

The Key Club also always participates in the march itself, which takes place April 17 this year and is a fundraiser for the March of Dimes, an organization that works to give babies a fighting chance against threats to their health such as premature birth, birth defects and low birth weight.

“At first, planning the event was a little rough, but now everything is coming together really well,” said Kayla Gorman, Key Club public relations officer.

To date, the Key Club has proffered more than 50 donations for the silent auction and arranged for the high school’s foodservice to provide the soup supper.

Silent auction items include baskets from Hormel, gift cards for the Hardy Geranium and the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre and tickets to KAUS Radio’s Winstock 2010 Country Music Festival.

The AHS Key Club does service and fundraising projects throughout the year, benefiting a variety of organizations including UNICEF.

Those interested in donating to the auction or to the Key Clubs March of Babies walking team can contact Key Club advisor Julie Hale at 433-0449.

Tickets to the Key Club’s Silent Auction and Soup Supper are $5. It is free for children under 5. Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce, Belles and Beaus, The Savory Skillet, Sterling Main Street and the door.

For more information about the March for Babies go to www.marchofdimes.com or call 282-0649.

Silent Auction and Soup Supper benefits March of Dimes

When: Sunday, March 28

Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 802 Fourth St. SW

Tickets: $5, free for children 5 and under; available at the Chamber of Commerce, Belles and Beaus, The Savory Skillet, Sterling Main Street and the door.

March for Babies

When: April 17, 9 a.m.

Register: 8 a.m. at Torge’s Live, 1701 4th St. NW

Benefits: March of Dimes research and programs to help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies in Southeast Minnesota.