Lakewood Ranch students help create special night for special kids

Grace Harvey and Lilly Hodge – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – Local special needs students enjoyed their very own prom, which was held April 21 at Woodland Community Church on SR 70. The theme for this special evening was “Night with the Stars.” Students in the Lakewood Leaders community service club volunteered to make their night memorable.

The prom was organized for all special needs students from ages 16 and up in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Prom was held from 5:30 – 9 p.m., food and drink was catered for the students along and a red carpet was provided to walk down. Volunteers got meals from PDQ thanks of their hard working service for the community, while special needs students were gifted a nice meal.

Students who volunteered were assigned two jobs, the first being security and the second was to dance with the attendees. Volunteers arrived at 5 p.m. and then left at 11 p.m. after the cleanup. No cell phones were allowed at the prom at any time.

Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) junior Robby Rodriguez volunteered.

“I wanted to go last year but I didn’t so I decided to go this year for the experience,” he said.
Volunteers made this night memorable for the special needs kids.

Rodriguez said, “I totally recommend it to anyone because you can get many hours out of it while making the kids feel special.”

All volunteers stayed to clean up and load the truck at the end of the night, leading them to stay until 11 p.m.