Thousands of veterans commit suicide every year in the United States. In 2019, the suicide rate for Veterans was 52.3% higher than non-veterans, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. This hits close to home as Cumberland County is home to more than 60,000 veterans.

Agora Productions Music Company, a local company that produces live music shows at a local Veterans of Foreign Wars post, will be hosting a benefit concert to raise funds for 22 Until None.

22 Until None is a non-profit that assists these veterans, and is looking to raise money to help give financial emergency assistance as well as help with Veteran's Affair's benefits and other services to veterans who need it.

The goal for Agora Productions is to raise $5,000 for the non-profit.

Chris McHargue is the ambassador of Tarheel Chapter of 22 Until None. He helps host chapter meetings at VFW Post 670. He says the main goal for 22 Until None is to help the immediate needs for local veterans in crisis.

“We handle the immediate crisis needs that a lot of charities can’t do because it takes a long time for approval and things like that,” McHargue said. “Then we follow-up after the crisis and ask, what got you at this point and what can we do to help you from getting to this point again?”

Wade B, Bubba Sparxxx, Race Taylor Music Group, Erikka, Lane Ward, Krackle Capone and Emmy Nominated artist TONE-z will be performing at the concert. Many of the artists are country acoustic artists or country-rap artists.

Gary Fisher, the promoter of Agora Productions, says the show will not only feature great music, but it will also be helping a good cause.

“I think it’s really good for veterans or soldiers to come to VFW or places like this because they can talk to people that have gone through the same thing that they have,” Fisher said. “Sometimes just talking to somebody and seeing somebody that’s gone through it and can tell you how they went through or are dealing with it, can be a really good thing.”

The concert will be featuring the local chapters of 22 Until None and the Veterans Suicide Awareness and Prevention Series, who will have resources available to veterans who come to the concert.

22Klicks Food Truck will also be at the event for people who want to purchase food.

Outside of the sponsors, the tickets, and the fundraiser Agora Productions is hosting, they will also be having two types of raffles to help raise money for the non-profit.

Fisher says this is an all-ages show and is open for the public to attend.

The concert will take place at VFW Post 670, 3928 Doc Bennett Road, on Feb. 3. Pre-sale tickets are $15 while tickets at the door are $20. Only 250 tickets will be available.

Doors to the concert will open at 6 p.m. and the live performances will start at 7 p.m.

Tickets can be bought online at https://theticketing.co/events/22untilnonebenefit.