For the first time, the annual “Spring Festival of Life” dinner and auction benefiting the Family Resources Center in Peoria will be hosted at the center itself.

The pro-life, pro-family outreach moved to its new Monroe Street location across from the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria last October. Goals of this year’s ninth annual festival — scheduled from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 3 — are to reduce the remaining debt on the facility and further the mission of building a culture of life.

The event begins with a dinner buffet from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with food provided by LaGondola Spaghetti House. A raffle with cash prizes of $500, $100, $50, or $25 will take place at 6:45 p.m. with a live auction at 7 p.m.

Cost for the dinner is $12 per adult, $5 per child ages 3 to 12, and maximum of $34 per family. Pre-paid dinner reservations are required and should be mailed as early as possible to Family Resources Center, 415 N.E. Monroe St., Peoria, IL 61603.

Walk-ins for the auction only are welcome at no charge. Among the auction items are a wren house, quilts, paintings, and even a “diaper cake.”

Vicki Waldschmidt is chairwoman for the event. Attendees this year will have the opportunity to tour the new center and learn about the free loan resources available for “building happy and holy families,” she said. For more information, call the center at (309) 637-1713.