Photo Provided by Jeremy Harrison The profits from the organization’s annual fundraiser will go towards homeless veterans.

WHEELING — Helping Heroes is ready for its annual “A Night to Remember” fundraiser this May, which will assist local veterans achieve housing stability.

All proceeds from the event will go toward the nonprofit’s efforts to provide resources for struggling veterans to help them transition from homeless to housed or maintain self-sufficiency.

For its 11th rendition, the fundraiser is switching location and menu. This year’s fundraiser will be held at the Wheeling Park Ice Skating Rink on May 17 at 5:30 p.m. and will feature catering provided by Texas Roadhouse.

“We’ve been at River City for the last several years, but we needed more space, so that’s why we are going to Wheeling Park,” explained Helping Heroes co-founder Jeremy Harrison. “We had just under 300 people at the event last year so we’re hoping to beat out last year’s attendance now.”

Another change for the fundraiser is that tickets will not be sold at the door. Attendees must purchase tickets in advance before the end of the day Saturday, May 13.

“People need to take note of the ticketing change,” emphasized Harrison. “We’ve always allowed ticket sales at the door, so to keep our attendance high, people need to buy in advance.”

For a $35 ticket, attendees will receive a 10 oz. ribeye or chicken breast with non-alcoholic drinks included. There will also be a cash bar at the event.

The fundraiser will include prize wheels, basket raffles, a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle. The event’s prizes include an acoustic guitar autographed by Luke Combs and a motorcycling club vest signed by Charlie Hunnam, who played “Jax” Teller on the TV show “Sons of Anarchy.”

A special presentation for the Helping Heroes 2024 scholarship recipients and the 2024 Veteran of the Year award will also occur at the event.

Harrison added that Helping Heroes is still looking for prize donations, basket donations and sponsors for the event. The event serves as the organization’s main fundraiser. Helping Heroes Harrison began the program in 2010 with his wife, Susan Harrison, to help address the city’s “epidemic” of homeless veterans.

Harrison outlined that many veterans suffer from issues relating to combat service and non-combat service, which creates difficulties when trying to find employment after serving.

“We started Helping Heroes because a lot of the veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan were having difficulty finding jobs or being able to work in general,” said Harrison. “It took a while to get their appropriate compensation from Veteran Affairs, Social Security and that sort of thing, so we provide financial assistance to veterans as well as families that are on the verge of homelessness.”

Helping Heroes also assists homeless veterans and veterans who are housed but having difficulty covering expenses such as utilities.

To purchase tickets, call 304-232-0114 or go to HelpingHeroesInc.org. Tickets can be purchased in person from the Helping Heroes at their current home in the basement of the Center Wheeling Fellowship building, located at 41 22nd St., Wheeling. Tickets can also be purchased at Moundsville American Legion, Happy Tails in McMechen and etix.com.