The Newtown Rotary Club Third Annual Restaurant Raffle has officially kicked off.

Members of the local chapter gathered at noon Saturday, March 15, at The Hilltop Kitchen at The Village in Sandy Hook, where the first tickets for this year’s fundraiser were sold.

For the third consecutive year the raffle offers an easy opportunity to support local restaurants while participating in a community-centered fundraiser. As always, proceeds from the raffle will benefit local charities, organizations, and programs throughout Newtown.

Tickets are still priced at $20 each, with a total of 2,000 tickets available for purchase. The raffle features thirty $100 gift cards from local restaurants. First prize is 15 $100 gift cards for 15 different restaurants, second prize is 10 $100 gift cards for 10 different restaurants, and third prize is five $100 gift cards for five different restaurants.

The drawing will take place at Newtown Community Center on Monday, June 16, at 7:30 pm. Winners do not need to be present. They will be contacted if not in attendance for the drawing.

Tickets are available for purchase through various channels: Newtown Rotary Club’s website (newtownctrotary.org) and social media outlets, Rotary tables outside local businesses on weekends; at Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street; and at the office of The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road.

Newtown Rotary Club member Alex Villamil is this year’s Restaurant Raffle Chair. The committee this year also includes Rotarians Jennifer and Neil Chaudhary, Vern Chong, Chris DiNoto, Christopher Hoeffel, Mary Ann Jacob, Mitzi Muller, Andreia Nardin, Larry Knabinde, Jim O’Connor, and Sattie Persaud.