photo by: Derek Redd (file)

Jeremy Harrison, co-founder of Helping Heroes, stands at the entrance of the former Manufacturer’s Light & Heat Building on 16th Street, which will serve as his organization’s new headquarters.

WHEELING — Local veteran support organization Helping Heroes is preparing to hold its 12th annual “Night To Remember” fundraiser to raise money for its new facility and celebrate local veterans.

The night will be full of activities, raffles, a silent auction, live music and food, as well as presentations of the organization’s 2025 scholarship recipients and Veteran of the Year award. This year’s event will be held at the Wheeling Park ice rink on May 9 at 5:30 p.m.

Helping Heroes provides utility, housing and food assistance for veterans in the area as well as supports them with finding employment opportunities, community and counseling.

The proceeds will largely go toward the new building that Helping Heroes hopes to move their headquarters into in the next year, as well as supporting the current services they offer.

“This event has always focused on bringing in proceeds that will focus on improving the current services that we have and eventually leading to newer services that we want to incorporate,” co-founder Jeremy Harrison said.

After having to move locations several times, Harrison said Helping Heroes is hoping to find its permanent home in the downtown Wheeling building adjacent to West Virginia Northern Community College’s main campus. Currently, they offer their services in the basement of the Center Wheeling Fellowship church downtown.

The new space will include 15 apartments for veterans and a thrift store. Further down the line, Harrison said he hopes to open a military-themed coffee shop in the building as well.

“The one thing the new building is going to give us is permanence and space,” he said.

Helping Heroes recently received state funding to hire on a suicide prevention specialist, and they want to continue expanding their staff to include counselors and more specialists.

Harrison said he hopes the fundraising event helps increase awareness on issues that veterans face, like high rates of suicide and homelessness.

The Night To Remember event drew in a diverse crowd of around 300 people last year, and Harrison said he anticipates a similar turnout this year.

“They come from all walks of life. We get veterans, family members,” he said. “And then people who just want to have a good time and show their support for the veteran population.”

One of the scholarships that will be announced at the event is a $1,000 scholarship that will go to a high school-aged child of a veteran.

“That parent has made sacrifices by serving in the military and protecting our country and this is just another way to say thank you for what they’ve done,” Harrison said. “We want to recognize that you have been successful in raising a kid that’s doing well and getting ready to graduate and this is a way to help out.”

Helping Heroes’ Veteran of the Year award will also be announced at the event. Harrison said the award goes to someone who has been especially active in their community and who has given back to and supported fellow local veterans.

Attendees of the event will be able to participate in a raffle for several themed baskets as well as an outdoor grill and smoker. The big-ticket items for the silent auction are a Kansas City Chiefs jersey signed by Taylor Swift and a guitar signed by Swift. There are also two prize wheels.

Tickets for the event are $35 and can be purchased up until May 7 online or in-person at Helping Heroes, Happy Tails in McMechen, the American Legion Post 3 in Moundsville. There are no tickets available at the door the day of the event.