Ricky's restaurant in Central City is holding its annual fundraiser for Variety's upcoming Show of Hearts Telethon.

The fundraiser, held during restaurant hours on Feb. 16 and 17, features raffles with great prizes like signed sports jerseys, a laptop and other items donated by the owner, and his friends and family.

Avtar Bains, who owns the Central City eatery, said that for every order made during those two days, they donate $5, no matter how much or little the cost.

"A lot of our staff will also donate their hours for the weekend as well," he said, and that money goes into the donation to Variety.

"Of all our achievements - and we've had record sales every year - this is our baby," said Bains.

Even some staff who no longer work at Ricky's come by to lend a hand on the Variety weekend.

Bains explained that his drive to help others started at a young age when his grandparents took him and his siblings to a downtown drop-in centre to hand out homemade Indian meals or hundreds of hotdogs to needy people.

Over the past seven years of annual fundraisers for Variety, Bains and the staff at Ricky's, which is managed by his son, have netted more than $55,000 for Variety.

On the morning of Sunday, Feb. 17, they will make the official presentation of more than $11,000 from last year's event that will be shown live on the Show of Hearts.

And, of course, you will be able to watch the broadcast at Ricky's in Central City.

Bains is encouraging everyone to stop by at any time during the telethon weekend and "have even toast just to make us donate $5 on your behalf." Their goal is to beat last year's total and every little bit helps.