Back-to-school fashion show and clothing drive benefits Magnolia families

The seventh annual event will take place Aug. 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Magnolia High School Auditorium. Any student in kindergarten through 12th grade may participate by modeling a school-appropriate outfit at the show. All clothing and accessories worn at the event, including backpacks, jewelry and shoes, will then be donated to children within Magnolia ISD.

Lynette Gibbons, director of special projects for the Society of Samaritans, said students who want to take part in the fashion show need to attend the walk-through rehearsal at the auditorium July 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. Parents and students will fill out pre-event forms at the rehearsal with basic information about each participant. No advanced registration or phone calls need to be made in order to sign up for a place in the show, Gibbons said.

“This is a kids-helping-kids program,” she said. “It’s teaching the kids to be volunteers at a younger age.”

The fashion show and clothing drive is free and open to the public. On the night of the event, students are encouraged to arrive at 5:45 p.m. dressed in the outfit they want to donate with a spare change of clothes to wear home. This year, Linda Kenjura, principal of Nichols Sawmill Elementary School, will be the master of ceremonies.

Gibbons said the back-to-school event has grown each year along with support for other functions the society hosts such as Christmas toy drives, senior citizen fundraisers and wildfire relief programs.

“I think Magnolia is the best community on earth, especially, with everything we saw with the wildfires,” she said. “It’s Magnolia that comes to help its own citizens. God has blessed this community.”

Volunteers and event organizers will be accepting monetary donations at the show to purchase additional clothes and school supplies for financially disadvantaged families in the area. In addition, anyone is welcome to sponsor specific MISD children through the society’s website, www.societyofsamaritans.com.