NHS cheerleaders raising funds for friend

Some Northshore High School cheerleaders will be filling grocery bags at Rouse’s Supermarket on Saturday, all in the name of helping a fallen friend.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the squad will be bagging groceries for donations to help with medical expenses for Ashlee Stokes, the 15-year-old Slidell girl who has been in a coma since a May 25 collision with an alleged drunk driver.

The idea came after the father of one of the girls, Jamie Jackson, struck up a conversation with the Rouse’s store manager. Having seen something similar at another area store, Jackson thought it would be a good way to show their support.

“We really wanted to do something for her, so we started planning it about a week ago,” said Jackson. “We’ve already made posters and gotten some buckets to collect the money.”

While not out of the woods yet, Stokes is showing signs of progress. Transferred to Kindred Hospital in New Orleans last week, she is no longer breathing with the help of ventilators or oxygen. There is still substantial swelling on one side, but she has moved her head slightly and opened one eye a few times.

The best move though, had to have been the small smile she managed to give her parents, David and Karen.

“We were just overjoyed to see that,” said Karen Stokes. “We all started crying.”

In addition to Saturday’s fundraising efforts, a spaghetti dinner is planned for July 19 at Community Christian Church, 1460 W. Lindberg Drive in Slidell.

Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at any of the following locations: AAA Insurance, 1300 Gause Blvd., Waste Management, 2685 U.S. Highway 190 West, and Eddie D’s Restaurant, 39510 U.S. Highway 190 East.

Donations may also be made at any Central Progressive Bank branch or by mailing in care of Cindy Wilson, P.O. Box 101, Mandeville, 70470.

Rouse’s Supermarket is located at 1644 Gause Blvd. in Slidell.