Plenty of tickets are still available for the inaugural Veterans Ball, which is being put on Jan. 12 by Veterans Challenge of Kinston.
“We’re trying to encourage them to come right away and get them as soon as possible,” said Debby Guthrie, director of Veterans Challenge.
Veterans Challenge is a nonprofit, volunteer-staffed entity which recently set up shop in Vernon Park Mall. The organization is designed to provide assistance — or referrals to other agencies — to veterans with PTSD counseling, housing, employment, disabilities and more.
“Our main motto is, ‘promoting the health and prosperity of veterans and the community,’ ” Guthrie said.
Next week’s Veterans Ball is not designed to be a fundraiser for Veterans Challenge, but to give veterans, as well as active-duty military members and reservists, a chance to have fun. Each person can also bring one guest.
Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased in advance at Veterans Challenge’s office, which is two doors down from the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles’ office at the mall.
Awards will be given for the youngest and oldest veterans, and for the couple that has been married the longest. The king and queen of the ball will be crowned as well.
The event will take place from 5-11 p.m. at the Hampton Inn of Kinston. Anyone who travels to Kinston and must spend the night or weekend in town can tell Hampton Inn staff they are with the Veterans Challenge Ball and receive a discount, plus a hot breakfast.
Discounts are also available for photos taken by Williamson Photography during the event.
“(The ball is) to honor them, to have a good time and for them to have something to look forward to,” Guthrie said of veterans.
A cash bar will also be available.
“We just would really like it to be supporting be the community,” Guthrie said of the ball.
David Anderson can be reached at 252-559-1077 or David.Anderson@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at DavidFreePress.
BREAKOUT BOX:
If you go:
What: Inaugural Veterans Ball
When: 5-11 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12
Where: Grand Ballroom, Hampton Inn, 1382 U.S. 258 South, Kinston
Cost: $5 per person
Contact: Veterans Challenge; 252-933-3540; veteranschallenge@yahoo.com; veteranschallenge.org or “Veterans Challenge, Inc.” on Facebook
