Royalty promote children’s charities, raise money and awareness

It’s never too early to learn to give back. That’s what Christy Liles believes and she is teaching the lesson to her daughter, Braelyn, at a very young age. The reigning Baby Miss Five Hills and her mom have undertaken a baby bottle fundraising campaign to benefit Hope Pregnancy Center as Braelyn’s platform of service this year. 

“They give so much free help and assistance to so many families,” “Without donations, they couldn’t continue to give to the families in need of our community.”

Liles and her tiny beauty queen have visited various businesses throughout Copperas Cove, Harker Heights and Killeen and asked to leave a baby bottle for customer to drop in loose change. Within the first week, the bottles collected more than $100. Liles plans to maintain bottles at at least 25 businesses through Feb. 1.

Little Miss Five Hills Kadence Coombs has taken her Bling for Bravery project beyond the boundaries of Copperas Cove.  The 5-year old is collecting old medals on neck ribbons for the Snowdrop Foundation which replaces the ribbons and gives them to children battling cancer at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston to encourage them to continue the fight and beat the deadly disease. Coombs, who dances on a competitive with GymKix, is asking dance studios across Texas to collect medals for her project.

“I am excited. I can’t wait to collect more and help out the kids in the hospital,” Coombs said.

If you would like to help support Bling For Bravery, collect old medals you have gotten from various events like gym meets, competitions, races, pageants, science fairs, etc. that are hidden away in your closets, attics, etc. and drop them off at GymKix, Copperas Cove Leader Press, or Copperas Cove ISD offices.

Junior Miss Five Hills Leslie Lindholm continues her work to encourage other children to love reading as much as she does. Having completed her major community service project of refurbishing newspaper vending machines and turning them into Little Free Libraries at all of CCISD’s elementary and junior high schools and both city swimming pools, Leslie now checks on each little library once a month straightening all the books and refilling the bins. She is constantly collecting books which she stores in her garage. 

“I want kids to be able to read. I want everyone to be able to read because you have to know how to read to get a job and just get through life,” Lindholm said. “You use reading every day in everything you do.”

In royal sightings this week, look for the titleholders to support the ribbon cutting on the new Domino’s expanded facility, the second anniversary celebration at Bearables and assist with the end of summer event at Candy Outfitters.