For 59 years, The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary has put on one of the most successful fashion shows in the area. On October 2, the Auxiliary will offer its 60th Fashion Show.

The 30 member Auxiliary, all volunteers, work almost year-round on the event. Auxiliary members encourage each store to invite folks, and help fill tables with their friends and colleagues. They also coordinate publicity through the local media to attract guests to one of their two shows.

The event is a major fundraiser for The Salvation Army’s Tree of Lights Campaign, and is one of the lead gifts given each year at the kick-off to the Christmas fundraising efforts of the Army. Last year’s efforts resulted in a $75,600 donation for the 2011 Tree of Lights.

The members of the Auxiliary do all of the behind the scenes work to make the event the big success that it has become, including selling ads in the show booklet, identifying the stores, helping find models, choosing the menu and writing the show script. Local celebrity models are sought out, including local sports celebrities, local television anchors and recognizable business folks. It is a fun and anticipated event each year and the consistency of stores and participants is a staple as well.

Fashions featured this year are from Azura- A Boutique Experience, Christopher & Banks-CJ Banks, JoS A. Bank, A perfect Pear Boutique & One more Pear Shoe Boutique, running central, Sassy Lady, Talbots and White House/Black Market.

For the $30 lunch tickets, call Paula Moore at 693-7530, and for the $15 evening dessert show at 7:30 p.m., call Penny Kunkle at 692-2400. The luncheon is at 11:30 a.m. and the dessert show begins at 7:30 p.m. on October 2ndat the Sheraton in downtown Peoria.