Junior homecoming dance to benefit students in need
Special to Leader-Press
—Nearly 70 percent of Copperas Cove ISD’s students are enrolled in the free and reduced price meal plan at their respective schools. As the percentage of families in-need continues to climb, CCISD is now offering free breakfast to all students in the district. But what happens to those students who cannot afford to eat on the weekends when they are not in school?
Williams/Ledger Elementary 1st grader and the reigning Jr. Mister Five Hills Jackson Gibbs is hosting the 2nd Annual Lil’ Dawg and Lil’ Lady Dawg Homecoming Dance on Sept. 7 to create a weekend backpack program at his school to provide meals for his fellow students.
“My mom is a teacher and I have seen her give food to kids who are hungry. That’s when I decided I want to help all the kids in my school who need it have food,” Gibbs said.
Dubbed Blessings in a Backpack, students will receive a bag containing a dinner for Friday night, three meals for Saturday and three meals for Sunday at the end of each week. The bags will be distributed through the Communities in Schools representative at Williams/Ledger, Starelette Williams.
“The items will be mainly non-perishable food items. Fresh food will be provided whenever there is availability,” Williams said. “Participation is voluntary and families may discontinue at any time.”
Any families wishing to receive food through the Blessings in a Backpack Program should pick up a permission slip from Williams and return it completed to their children’s teachers.
For Gibbs though, the event is also about having fun.
“I chose to have the homecoming dance so that we little kids can experience a homecoming dance too. I older kids talk about their homecoming dances and wish that little kids would get to experience that,” Gibbs said. “We support our team too, so why not let the little kids show off their spirit?”
The event will include music, entertainment, and dancing along with food and drinks. One of the highlights of the afternoon is a red carpet walk where guests are introduced and highlighted at the event. The dance is for youngsters ages 2-12 and the dress is formal. All children must have an adult in attendance at the event.
Tickets are $10 each and are available online through the Copperas Cove Five Hills Scholarship Pageant Facebook page, events section or https://jrhomecomingdance.eventbrite.com. To purchase tickets offline or a VIP table, email fivehillspageant@gmail.com. VIP tables seating eight guests and including mums for the girls and boutonnieres for the boys and commemorative photos are available for $100.
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If you go…
What: 2nd Annual Lil’ Dawg and Lil’ Lady Dawg Homecoming Dance for children ages 2-12
Where: Copperas Cove Civic Center, 1206 W. Ave. B, Copperas Cove
When: Sept. 7, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Cost: $10 per ticket per child, $10 per adult or $100 for VIP table
Attire: formal
Other: Event includes a red carpet walk for guests along with entertainment, dancing, food and drink.