The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Warfighter Outfitters is hosting its annual fundraising dinner and auction benefit this Saturday, February 8, at the Riverhouse Expo Center in Bend. Warfighter Outfitters is a veterans nonprofit that provides free of charge guided hunting, fishing and engagement trips to veterans. One hundred percent of the proceeds of the fundraiser go directly to operating costs as there are zero salaries in the organization.

In previous years, Warfighter Outfitters has hosted a crab feed and auction at Aspen Lakes, but due to selling out the event nearly every year, the move to Bend happened this year to provide the room and the logistics, according to Warfighter Outfitters founder Brett Miller.

“We moved to the Riverhouse in Bend so we can accommodate all those who want to come, as well as provide a space and location that can handle the dinner as well as the space needed for the auction,” said Miller.

Warfighter Outfitters was founded in 2014 by Miller after he recovered from injuries sustained in a roadside bombing while deployed in Iraq. Since then the organization has grown to 32 volunteers and merged with Team Overland and Veterans Back 40 Adventures that now reside under the Warfighter Outfitters brand but still operate independently serving veterans on four-wheel-drive/ overland trips and adventure motorcycle/enduro motorcycling trips.

This year the event has over $200,000 worth of fair market value items in the auctions as well as a wall of guns, fishing trips, hunting trips and hundreds of silent auction items. Sisters Meat and Smokehouse has provided the tri-tip for the main course, and several dozen local businesses have contributed items to the auction and the cause.

Tickets can be bought in advance on the website at Warfighter Outfitters and drink and raffle tickets are discounted if purchased before the event.