Under a full moon and unseasonably warm weather, Karin Bitter put on her dancing shoes for a perfect prom night.
"I was born to dance," Bitter said.
Bitter attended the second annual A Night to Shine event Friday night at Capital West Christian Church. The church is a local host for a global event sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, which according to the foundation's website, aims to help guests who are "people with special needs (to) realize that their church can be a place where they are loved and feel welcomed."
This year, about 375 churches in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and at least nine other countries hosted Night to Shine events. Events in at least the contiguous U.S. are held simultaneously on the Friday night before Valentine's Day.
Guests like Bitter, of Eldon, came paired with buddies to be their escorts for the night. Hers was her niece's fiance, Ryan Farbis, of Jefferson City.
As Bitter sat down to get her make-up done by volunteer and hair stylist Shelby Bopp, Farbis said both of them appreciate the opportunity for her to have a night like this.
"She probably didn't get to do it in high school," he said, referring to Bitter's high school prom.
Friday evening's event began with pampering.
Every guest was provided the opportunity to have their makeup and hair done, and men got the chance to get their shoes shined. The guests then received a crown, tiara or corsage, and many wore donated or costs-covered dresses, tuxedos and accessories.
"I know some wear it every day, from what they received last year," volunteer Lydia Mietzner said of jewelry donated by local boutique Hello Belle. Mietzner said guests get to pick out all the jewelry they want, and they get to keep it.
All the primping came after guests walked into the event center on a velvet rope-lined red carpet with their names being announced, surrounded by about two dozen applauding people and photographers.
Mike Haller, his daughter Lydia and 10-12 fellow members of her American Heritage Girls troop worked the line, with at least some of the girls assisting guests in wheelchairs get into the building.
Both of the Hallers agreed the best part of the event for them is "seeing their faces light up," Mike said of the guests' reactions.
After registration and the celebrity treatment, guests were treated to a buffet-style meal donated by Lee's Chicken. There was also freshly popped popcorn, cupcakes, lemonade and tea in the blue- and white-lit ballroom serving as the dining area and dance floor - decorated with stars, balloons and dangling beads.
It was quite the social event, with karaoke, limousine rides around the building and a photo booth.
Senior minister of the church, Ken Harland, said many of the guests already know each other from events like the Special Olympics. Bitter said she knew at least one friend in attendance.
Harland added the guests' usual caretakers were being treated to a night off in a building across the street with a meal of their own, and they could watch the prom live on a big screen. Chick-fil-A donated boxed meals for volunteers and the guests' buddies.
While the Tim Tebow Foundation gives them a grant to cover the expenses of the event, associate minister Rick Yoder said, "we decide what to do with it," which means a lot of organizing falls on their shoulders - a six-month effort that kicked into high gear within the past three months or so.
"It's kind of Rick Yoder's baby," Kim Stockstill said of the night. She said she did publicity for the event, and Todd Mellman coordinated all the members of the leadership committee.
"Meeting the guests, they bring such joy," Yoder said.
"We want it to be a celebration of God's love (for the guests)."