New homecoming tradition aims to feed the hungry

SOUTHLAKE — It is the definition of Texas tradition; the ornate, intricate, expensive mums and garters high school boys and girls wear to the annual homecoming game.

But this year at Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, you may see fewer of those feathers and frills.

"It's a change in tradition, that's all," explained 16-year-old junior Destiny Rose.

You see, Rose has a big idea.

She's urging her classmates to forgo their mums, and instead donate those hundreds of dollars they would have spent to YouthWorld, a charity that will then buy Thanksgiving dinners for underprivileged families in South Dallas.

"Fifty dollars will give groceries to a family of six people," said Angie Rose, Destiny's mom.

And after donating, students would receive a shirt to wear instead of the mums.

"If you think about all the children that could go without Thanksgiving dinner... I mean, why wouldn't you want to do it?" Destiny asked.

Carroll Senior High junior Destiny Rose has proposed a new homecoming tradition: Instead of spending money on mums and garters, donate those funds to provide Thanksgiving meals.

Principal Shawn Duhon said Carroll High students shouldn't feel obligated to participate, but he wholeheartedly supports the idea.

This isn't the first time a student from Carroll ISD has used the mums tradition for a philanthropic cause; last year at Southlake Carroll, some kids wore arm bands instead of mums and donated the money to a military charity.

"Our kids in Carroll ISD, their hearts are in the right place," Duhon said.

It's a tradition Destiny Rose hopes students at other schools will adopt. "It's such a cool thing to do; it's a very humbling thing to do," she said.

If you're interested in learning more about Destiny's plan, visit the Mumz4Kidz website.