Here's an easy way to help and say thanks to the military stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Just sip wine and beer and participate in a silent auction at the Taste of AUSA, Oct. 1 at the Foss Waterway Seaport on 705 Dock Street in Tacoma.

The fundraiser is hosted by the Tacoma sub-chapter of AUSA and the Captain Meriwether Lewis Chapter of AUSA.

"It's a way of helping," said Amy Tiemeyer, AUSA chapter president.

Col. Michael Place, the new commander of Madigan Medical Center, will be the guest speaker.

The event costs $25 and is free for active-duty military and their spouse. That includes six tasting tickets and heavy appetizers. Reservations can be made online at EventBrite.com.

The fundraiser goes toward helping military members through the Warrior Transition Battalion, Western Medical Command and the Madigan Army Medical Center.

The purpose of the sip-and-eat event is simple.

"To raise money to support soldiers in those units," Tiemeyer said.

It's a helping hand and a way to recognize through public events, awards and meals.

"These soldiers who are part of the medical group, deploy pretty rapidly," Tiemeyer said. "They deploy with the different units on base. They're moving under the radar. They're a harder group to honor."

Medical units deploy in smaller units.

A welcome home with a ceremony or simply by offering a ham or a turkey on holidays is a way of saying thanks. The AUSA silent auction helps raise money for things like that.

"It can be used for ceremonies to give them recognition," Tiemeyer said. "It's turkeys and hams for the holidays. Single servicemembers coming back, we want to make sure they all feel supported."

Tiemeyer is expecting about 100 people to attend the silent auction. So far, about 55 have already signed up. For the silent auction, a variety of items have been donated by local businesses. About $450 in restaurant gift cards have been donated. Tours to LeMay Car Museum and a tour of Port of Tacoma have been donated. There's also metal art that has been donated by TKMM.

Meals at a holiday can be a special way of saying thanks to those who are single and returning from deployment to an empty home.

"We want to make sure they all feel supported," Tiemeyer said. "When you're talking medical professionals, they're moving in smaller units all the time."

To attend this event, you must be 21 years of age or older.

To donate an auction item, contact Jane Huges at 253.722.1438. To sponsor this event with donations of $300, $500 or $1,000, call Brenna Johnson at 253.682.1733.

Place assumed command of the Madigan Army Medical Center July 15. Previously, he was the senior medical advisor in the Army Secretariat, and he was assigned as the Assistant Deputy for Health Affairs. Place joined the Army after graduating from John Hopkins University.

His lengthy military assignments include a year-long deployment to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom as a medical task force commander.