With only a few months left until Habitat for Humanity plans to break ground on its next project, the nonprofit organization is hosting its 2nd Annual "Barton County’s Got Talent" dinner theater this Saturday, with hopes for raising at least $15,000. These funds will be acquired through a combination of ticket sales, table sponsorships from local business and freewill donations at the event, said Habitat cochairman Rachel Mawhirter.

"This dinner theater fundraiser was extremely successful last year, probably because of its unique nature, and sold out days before the event," Mawhirter said. With a change of venue to Grace Community Church, 210 McKinley St., sponsors can now accommodate an audience of nearly 500 people.

Seating is limited for the dinner at 6 p.m., and tickets must be purchased in advance for that option. But tickets for the talent show at 7 p.m. will be available at the door, Mawhirter said.

Tickets for the dinner and show are $25 each, and include a three-course meal provided by members of Grace Community Church. For those who just want to get in on the competition at 7 p.m., tickets for the show only are $15.

"This fundraiser is a fun spin-off of the America’s Got Talent television show," Mawhirter said. "Our acts will compete for the chance to win prizes, but everyone who participates and attends is guaranteed the satisfaction of providing a home for a family in Barton County."

This year’s judges are Jan Westfall with Great Bend Regional Hospital, Steven Lueth with Barton Community College’s Instrumental Music Department, Joe Boley with the Golden Belt Community Concert Association, Sally O’Conner with the Great Bend Community Theatre, and Heather Newsome, who is living in a home built by Habitat for Humanity.

So far, Habitat has raised approximately $41,000 of the $60,000 needed to construct its next home. With the family selection process well under way, it is imperative that community members step up and help reach the fundraising goal, Mawhirter said. Once the home is built, the partner family purchases the home from Habitat as they would from any other lender. "The difference is that when those payments start coming in, our board can use those funds to help yet another family," she said. "It’s like the donations just keep on giving."

Anyone interested in purchasing tickets or making a tax-deductible donation should contact Mawhirter, 620-786-4896 or habitatbartoncounty@hotmail.com. Tickets are also available at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. Find Habitat for Humanity of Barton County on Facebook and Twitter.