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Ryan Mackey, seen here in pirate garb, was among the ranks of "celebrity" waiters serving guests during the dinner portion of the evening.
The event, which was much more than a simple dinner, began with a social hour followed by a themed meal, which saw guests sit down to be served by volunteers waitpersons dressed as celebrities like Fred Flintsone and Barbie.
In one corner of the Belk Center cafeteria pirates were serving tea and in the other a Diana Ross look-a-like could be seen dishing out stuffed pork chops.
Chief among the laughter inducing themed experiences was the "redneck wedding" section of the room which, just as the name suggests, involved volunteer waiters and waitresses dressed as rednecks at a wedding -- complete with mullets, bad teeth and deer season camouflage.
For local Dan Thomas the attraction of the "costumes and the people" at the annual dinner was surpassed only by the desire to support the good cause that is the Red Cross.
"They always try to be original every year and they always do a good job. It is hard to come up with different stuff every year," he said.
Calling the Red Cross a "good cause" is more than lip service, coming from Thomas, who said that his "first encounter with the Red Cross was in 1967 in Vietnam."
"I've encountered them quite a few times in serious situations since then and they're always there when you need them."
It was with experiences like Thomas' in mind that the event's many sponsors managed to give, and people managed to attend in spite of the dire economic times in the Scotland County area.
Those sponsors were recognized with sponsorship awards at the conclusion of the dinner, after which the stuffed and contented 200-plus in attendance made their way to the second floor of the facility for games, which were in one room, and a DJ'd dance, which was in another.
Family Feud, blackjack, bingo, celebrity golf, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" and "Wheel of Fortune" were all on the long list of games available to those who chose not to munch on the Godiva chocolates served in the dance hall.
While all of the fun was being had, few opportunities for the Red Cross to benefit were missed, as tips collected by bartenders, money paid to participate in the playing of a prize laden "punch board", re-buys of the "fun money" which allowed games participation, and the proceeds earned by a silent auction all went to benefit the organization.
Silent auction items were many and diverse, and all given by local donors. Multiple nights at vacation homes, a golf package, a blue tooth headset, and even a pair of live plants were on the list of 23 items up for auction.
Scotland County local Liz Dinkins, who has attended the event four times in the past, was glad to see how much the night was helping with the Red Cross' work.
"It's great that this is raising money for the Red Cross, and it is also just a lot of fun for us," said Dinkins.
According to Lentz, $16,281 being added to the Red Cross funds pool thanks to the Celebrity Dinner Success.
"We were very concerned when we started planning, with the economy the way it was, but the community has come out and supported the Red Cross and it has been a wonderful night," said Lentz.
Attendance was only down, according to Lentz, approximately thirty people from last year, a dip which was "not as much as we were afraid of," she said.
"Just to see so many people come out and support the Red Cross, it warms my heart."
Money raised at the event will be spent on the Red Cross' many programs, including their disaster relief services, which Robeson County Red Cross representative Pat Smartt said is a service which "never goes out of style."
"I've been servicing one, two and even three fire victims per week," said Smartt, who thanked the supporters who came out for "recognizing what the Red Cross does" by giving.
"Donations might be a little down, but people are still giving what they can," she said.
The Barbie Girls of Campbell Soup, Inc. hauled in the most tips on the evening, at $777, with the Mo-town Sounds table bringing in $431 for the most in the "small table" category.
Tips given to bartenders added over $300 to the total raised, a number which Lentz felt was worthy of praise.
Of the themed table winners, listed below, Lentz said: "If it was up to me, they would all get an award. Everyone worked hard and raised a lot of money for the Red Cross at a time when we need it more than ever."
Table Competition Winners:
Best Overall (Large Table): Scotland Memorial Hospital with their pirate theme.
Best Overall (Small Table): Campbell Soup, Inc. with their Barbie Girls theme.
Best newcomer: Mo-Town
Most Original: Murphy Brown's MASH
Funniest and Best Performance: "My Redneck Wedding"
Best look-a-likes: Eric Byrd Insurance (The Flintstones)
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