Around 600 men showed up to stand in for absent fathers at Billy Earl Dade Middle School in Texas after faculty sought only 50 volunteers.
The school has almost 900 students and 90 percent of them come from low-income households. About 150 students signed up for the ‘Breakfast with Dads’ event.
However, Kristina Dove, the senior partner relations manager, was not sure if all students would have a dad present during the event.
That’s why she used social media to look for volunteers for the big event.
“Please Share! Men Needed! On next Thursday, December 14th at 8:30 AM at Dr. Billy Earle Dade Middle School we will host ‘Breakfast with Dads’ the reality of a great event like this is alot of our kids will not have a Dad present,” she wrote.
She added: “But there is nothing like having a male present in the form of a mentor. We are [in] need of at least 50 or more additional male mentors who can devote 1 hour of their Wednesday morning next week to this cause.”
On the day of the event, 600 men showed up to support the pupils!
Rev. Donald Parish Jr., a pastor of True Lee Missionary Baptist Church, said to the Dallas Morning News: “When a young person sees someone other than their teacher take interest in them, it inspires them. That’s what we want to see happen.”
Jason Rodriguez, the assistant chief of police for the Dallas Independent School District Police Department, wrote on Twitter: “Words cannot describe the impact mentoring youth can have on both you and your mentee. Powerful to see a community of fellow men and fathers come together to wrap their arms around or young men. Thank you for having me out.”
Stephanie Drenka wrote on her website: “I was privileged to photograph the event at Kristina’s request. It was a miracle any of the pictures came out in focus, because I could barely see clearly through the tears streaming down my face and fogged-up glasses.
“I will never forget witnessing the young students surrounded by supportive community members. There were so many volunteers, that at times I saw young men huddled in the center of 4-5 mentors,” she added.
“The look of awe- even disbelief- in students’ eyes as they made their way through the crowd of “Dads” was astonishing.”
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