Pull On Your Blue Jeans & Boots

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Pull on Your Blue Jeans & Boots

By Troy Salsbury for the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia

Photos by Lindsay Stewart Photography

Dust off your boots and pull out your favorite blue jeans, because you’re in for a quite a treat! On October 21st, the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia (HSSCG) introduces its inaugural Blue Jean Ball. Eliminate the need for wardrobe second-guessing, enjoy a night of good food, drinks, and great music all while helping the animals of the humane society. The Blue Jean Ball will bring together people who are passionate about supporting the homeless animals in our community, and those who just want to celebrate during an evening of fun at The Stables of Frederica, on beautiful St. Simons Island.

Lou Bailey, an HSSCG Board member, can be credited for coming up with the idea for doing a more casual event with blue jeans and boots. She had seen it done successfully in other communities and says, “People often love to come together for a good cause, but the same old black tie and gown events can become a little lackluster. This is an opportunity for people to dress down, yet still have a little glamour.” This type of outdoor, casually glamorous event is a perfect opportunity for people to “have a ball” without overthinking what they’re going to wear.

HSSCG is reaching out to their Southeast Georgia family and beyond. They hope that people will join them at the event as individual paid guests, sponsors, or donors to help them fund their programs which save the lives of approximately one thousand homeless animals each year, as well as providing medical spay/neuter services and rabies vaccinations for an additional thousand pets through their Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic. With this year’s ball, HSSCG specifically hopes to raise additional money for their sheltered animals’ medical needs, one of the most significant components of their animal budget. The care, love, and medical attention that HSSCG gives to each animal that enters through their doors comes at a high financial price. They can only give homeless animals a second chance with your help.

At the ball, guests can dance the night away to the live music of Suzy and the Bird Dogs, who will perform at the beginning of the event, followed by “DJ Weav” (John Weaver, DMD, beloved local orthodonist and husband of HSSCG veterinarian Dr. Melissa Weaver) who will keep the smiles going for the rest of the evening. Keenan Carter, a/k/a Ziggy Mahoney, has generously agreed to emcee the event. One of the humane society’s Board members (and the founder of Creative Printing), Bob Thompson, Jr., will be preparing Boston butts for the night’s event, with local friends The Crab Trap and Rich’s/SeaPak providing sides, desserts, and other accompaniments. HSSCG also extends a huge thank you to Don Leebern and Wayne Murphy of Georgia Crown Distributors, who are providing libations at the open bar that evening.

HSSCG is offering four levels of sponsorship for the event, which all include tickets to the event and promotional and advertising placement.  Higher level sponsors will receive, in addition to the above, reserved table seating and/or a private lounge during the ball. Some of the auction items that have already been donated are quite exciting, and will be posted on HSSCG’s social media avenues in the near future. Individual tickets to the ball may be purchased for $150 on the humane society’s website at HSSCG.org/events in advance of the event. A full packet for sponsorships and auction items may also be printed from the HSSCG website.

The success of the Blue Jean Ball is truly vital to the humane society’s continued medical program and critical operations. HSSCG saves lives of animals through its medical practice, and helps alleviate the discomfort that so many have lived with before their arrival at their Adoption Center. They need the financial support of the community to continue this important work. HSSCG is not under the umbrella of the Humane Society of the United States, and does not receive any form of government funding.

Many companion animals have been saved through the humane society’s medical programming. The story of “Pickles” is a prime example. Pickles, a Chihuahua/Fox Terrier mix with an adorable face and kind personality, arrived at HSSCG in bad shape. The small-framed dog had been overfed and became morbidly obese. Because she had developed pancreatitis and diabetes that had been left untreated, she started losing weight rapidly, which compounded matters by affecting her liver function. Pickles was properly diagnosed with the dedicated work of Dr. Melissa Weaver, the medical team at the humane society, and Drs. Wes Blount and Brennan McGoldrick of Seaside Veterinary Hospital. She was put on a crucial regimen that included medication, antibiotics, insulin injections, and prescription food.  Her health has since improved greatly, she loves the attention of the staff at the humane society, and receives the care, love, prescription food, and insulin she requires daily. Stories like Pickles’ abound, and thanks to the community’s charity to HSSCG, the animals are treated and find great homes.

So pull on your jeans and some boots, and come up to The Stables at Frederica for the Blue Jean Ball this October to help HSSCG provide medical care that goes above and beyond for the animals. Virginia Schlegel, Executive Director of HSSCG, is excited about the upcoming festivities and hopes that it will become an annual community event. “I see this event being a great time for people of all age groups, from 21 to above. It’s a perfect way to mingle, celebrate, and make an impact for local companion animals.” This proceeds from the Blue Jean Ball will also help to support other HSSCG programming, such as critical volunteer, fostering, adoptions, and community outreach. Don’t pass up this opportunity to have a blast with good food, live music and dancing, an open bar, and fantastic auctions. The humane society will benefit, and the sheltered animals in your community will love you for it. Visit hsscg.org to get your tickets today.