Neon clothes, neon lights, and cans of food will fill Willow Springs Middle School tonight as it is hosting a Neon dance where students are collecting canned goods for Allen Community Outreach.

“The theme of this year’s dance is different than ones we have had in the past, but the concept is the same,” eighth grader Madeline Sanders said. “Every year the dances have had some sort of outreach. In the past, we have had Pink Out dances that funded money that went toward breast cancer research, and last year we had a Red-Out dance that funded the school. Much like last year, the Neon Dance will benefit Lovejoy.”

Eighth grader Olivia Porsch wants students to “have fun.”

“The Neon Dance is to bring the students together to have fun and to raise money for the school,” Porsch said. “We are asking the students to bring canned goods for the ACO to donate to them and to help raise money for the school.”

As in years past, PALS planned the dance.

“The PALS students have been working hard for the past couple of weeks to plan the dance,” Sanders said. “They selected the theme of the dance, the games, and the decorations. Everyday leading up to the dance, two PALS students would announce at lunch reminders for the dance as well as making posters to advertise the dance.”

Eighth grader Addison Lloyd said she believes the dance also helps students “become better friends.”

“The dance is a good school event to have fun with friends,” Lloyd said. “It also helps the community by donating canned goods to the ACO.”

Students are encouraged to come to the dance to be able to get together outside of school.

“The main goal of the dance is to raise money for the school, and to bring students together to have bonding experiences outside of school,” Sanders said.