2nd annual Mommy, Daddy & Me Sweetheart Tea for charity

By NICOLE METTS
Cove Leader-Press

All day last Saturday there were sittings of 24 guests at the Mommy, Daddy & Me Sweetheart Tea at Bearables on Main Street. 
Beauty and the Beast were special guests at this event along with the Copperas Cove Five Hills Scholarship Pageant royalty. The young guests came dressed their best in gowns, tiaras and suits.
Trisha Stutz, the Copperas Cove Five Hills Ambassador, chose this event to help raise money for her platform of service by being a charity advocate for PTSD awareness. 
The money will benefit the community organization Bring Everyone in the Zone, based in Killeen. 
This non-profit organization provides peer-to-peer counseling groups in the Copperas Cove, Fort Hood, Killeen and Harker Heights areas with no insurance or payment needed.
The tea, while raising funds, also provided  good time for those who attended. 
“I love children, so it seems fun to teach them manners, etiquette and have some tea. This year we added the Beauty and the Beast theme,” said Stutz, whose son, Joseph, age 14, played the part of the Beast. 
Bearables sponsors the Five Hills pageant so they loaned their party room and the Beast costume for the event.  Families had many picture-taking opportunities with Belle and Beast along with a backdrop from Bearables and picture props. Guests were served three kinds of tea, green, raspberry, and orange, in teacups. 
A three-course tea was also served to include hors d’oeuves, sandwiches and several choices of sweets.  
Children and parents learned to waltz and box step, pairing with Mom, Dad and/or Belle and the Beast. 
Stutz(Belle) reminded everyone to put their napkin on their lap, say please and thank you and all the girls wearing a dress should cross their legs at the ankles. 
Belle also mentioned it was ok to have one hand on the table when you are eating here in the United States, but if in England, to have no hands on the table, but in Germany it’s ok to have both hands on the table. 
Stutz also taught the children balance by allowing them to walk around the room balancing a book on their head. Pulling the chair out for ladies and girls was also practiced. 
Meagan Dawn Anderson, age 5, said, “My favorite princess is Belle.” Anderson attended the event with her father, Donald Anderson, and twin sister, Skylar Marie Anderson. 
All the little princesses said their favorite princess was Belle when asked.
Skylar Anderson said her favorite part of the party was the cupcaktes.
Attendees for the sold-out event found out through Facebook and from family and friends. All four seatings were sold out and there were still more people on a waiting list.
Pageant director Wendy Sledd said, “This event will continue into next year even when Trish gives up her crown March 24. It was obviously very successful. We are grateful to our sponsors; HEB (who gave a community grant and food), Chick-Fil-a, Candy Outfitter and of course, Bearables for the room and costume. 
“It’s nice to be able to raise money for peer-to-peer counselling for soldiers in Copperas Cove and the community support helps us give more to our charity.”
For more information about Bring Everyone In The Zone that provides volunteer peer support to service members, veterans, go online to www.bringeveryoneinthezone.org or call 254-681-9112, 254-423-7632.