A national department store is looking to help local nonprofit organizations raise funds this summer.

Belk will hold its semi-annual Charity Sale from 6-10 a.m. April 16.
In the meantime, the corporation is looking for nonprofit groups to participate.

Groups can sell $5 advance tickets to shoppers, which includes extra discounts the day of the event. The first 100 customers in each store will receive free Belk gift cards ranging in value from $5 to $100 and a chance to win one of three $1,000 gift cards awarded companywide.

Charities keep 100 percent of the proceeds from their individual ticket sales and are entered to win one of three $1,000 donations from Belk.

Tickets are good at any Belk location, including one at Lakeshore Mall, 285 Dawsonville Highway in Gainesville.

Beginning April 8, shoppers can purchase a $5 ticket at a Belk store, with proceeds from those sales to be split among the participating nonprofit groups.

The 2010 Charity Sale raised more than $9.5 million for hundreds of participating charities.