ROCKINGHAM — Hundreds of energetic kids swarmed Falling Creek Park on the fifth-to-last day of summer break Wednesday, dancing freestyle to a deejay, jumping in a bouncy house and waiting for promised school-themed giveaways.

Willie and Ingrid Hooks, owners of Hooks BBQ and Buffet in Cheraw, organized the event with a handful of other community sponsors to give low-income children a good time and some needed school supplies.

“This is our first time doing it,” Ingrid Hooks said, as her husband sweated over a grill, sporadically turning 200 hot dogs and 200 burgers. “God bless, we’re going to do it every year.”

The two said they had been giving back to the community quietly for years. This year, they decided to make a little noise.

And noise there was:

The strains of hip-hop and rhythm and blues by deejay “Starchild,” also known as Thomas Taylor.

Groups of girls laughing and somersaulting to the music.

And the shrieks of children climbing over one another to get good spots in the bouncy house.

At around 6, the prize giveaways began — two free hairstyles and 200 book bags stuffed with binders, pencils and crayons.

Nine-year-old Haras Lockhart slung her yellow pack around her shoulders while surveying the crowd, most of whom she said she knew.

“I think it’s very fun,” she pronounced, giving the event her personal seal of approval. “I really liked the bouncy house.”

As happy children wove and swung through the crowd, Shanetta Strong watched with a grin on her face. An after-school teacher with the Rockingham Housing Authority, she also pronounced the afternoon great.

“This is beautiful,” she said, adding that it was unfortunate that so many children could use a bit of help. About 200 attended.

“Our economy is bad right now,” she said, philosophically. “A little something’s better than a whole bunch of nothing.”

Other sponsors for the event were Krush Lounge, CutZone hairdressers and Vicky’s Haven.

Willie Hooks — Jr. and III — tend the grill at Wednesday’s Back-to-School Jam. Hooks and his wife, Ingrid, came up with the event as a way to aid children in need. Hooks, who owns a barbecue restaurant, spent hours over the hot grill.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_schooljam_burgers.jpgWillie Hooks — Jr. and III — tend the grill at Wednesday’s Back-to-School Jam. Hooks and his wife, Ingrid, came up with the event as a way to aid children in need. Hooks, who owns a barbecue restaurant, spent hours over the hot grill.

Children line up by grades — kindergarten to grade two, grades three to five, middle school and high school — to receive school bags loaded with school supplies. Food, drink and entertainment also were free during the event at Falling Creek Park.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_schooljam1.jpgChildren line up by grades — kindergarten to grade two, grades three to five, middle school and high school — to receive school bags loaded with school supplies. Food, drink and entertainment also were free during the event at Falling Creek Park.
Restaurant owners help kids ready for school

By Christine S. Carroll

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Reach Christine Carroll at 910-817-2673.