Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Jan. 15, 2025 – Those wanting to support the fight to end human trafficking can do so with a meal at Hope Found of Northeast Arkansas’s 5th annual Date Night with a Purpose.

Hope Found of NEA Cofounder, Board President, and Executive Director Megan Brown said the annual fundraiser is a unique dining experience delivered right to your door, which helps Hope Found in the fight to end human trafficking.

“Date Night is a good, one-of-a-kind experience. It’s a fine dining fundraiser that you enjoy from your home,” she said. “We’ve partnered with an award-winning bakery, Southern Confections, and then award-winning local chef, Dana Lamel, who does restaurant consulting and helps them build their menu.”

Each $100 ticket includes two dinners from a selected menu, which includes a selection of wild mushroom beef tip pasta in a brown demi sauce, chicken Tuscan pasta (white sauce) or pasta primavera (vegetarian option, cream sauce). All of these are served with homemade garlic bread, Caesar salad and Southern Confections’ homemade cheesecake for dessert.

Meals will be delivered to the ticket holder’s home between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Jan. 30 in an insulated keepsake delivery bag, or pick-up will be available at Southern Confections at 2615 E. Nettleton also between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Meals can be delivered within a 25-mile radius of Jonesboro.

The deadline to purchase tickets for Date Night is Jan. 23, which can be purchased on their website at Hope Found of Northeast Arkansas – 5th Annual Date Night with a Purpose. Although Brown noted that most people will purchase online because that’s where they can select which dinners they want, they can also contact her at 870-902-0677 if they want to pay another way.

According to Brown, Date Night with a Purpose has been moved to January this year in honor of Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Hope Found is aiming to sell 150 tickets between ticket sales and sponsorship tickets. Cross Bank is the presenting sponsor for this year’s event.

“Every sponsor gets a ticket. So, depending on however many sponsors we have, they all get a ticket to Date Night and then we will raffle off a Date Night ticket also,” she said. “That is our goal and, honestly, we have a lot of sponsors this year. So, I would say we should sell at least 110 tickets. We’ve sold 110 tickets before, so I know it’s possible.”

The Date Night Raffle is separate from the Date Night event, Brown noted. However, it will give participants a chance to win the main prize, which includes one ticket (two dinners) for Date Night with a Purpose, a two-night stay at Biggers Bed and Breakfast in Hardy, and a silver infinity bracelet made by a survivor of human trafficking.

These tickets can also be purchased on the Hope Found of NEA website for $10 each or three for $25. The winner will be announced via social media on Facebook or Instagram on Jan. 19. They will also contact the winner. The last day to buy raffle tickets is midnight on Jan. 18.

Hope Found NEA is a local nonprofit serving human trafficking victims. It provides direct services to victim and also hosts community trainings, education and awareness presentations on the issue.

For those in need of services, call the Hope Found help line at 877-688-HOPE (4673) or the NEA Human Trafficking Hotline at 870-336-7256. For more information visit Hope Found of Northeast Arkansas online.