Debra Pettit has spent the last ten years transforming used ribbons, glitter, and trinkets into new homecoming mums in Van Alstyne. The tradition began when Pettit brought her daughter’s old mums to a football game and sold them for five dollars. She noted that the items were purchased immediately, indicating a clear demand for affordable options among students.
Pettit now contacts families to collect mums that daughters have outgrown. She saves the components to create new accessories, ensuring each item is personalized for a specific student. One instance that stands out to Pettit involved a mother undergoing chemotherapy who requested mums for her three daughters. Pettit created personalized accessories for all three girls so they could share the same experience as their peers.
Angelica Peña, a volunteer who assists with the project, shared her own background. During her high school years, her family could not afford a mum, which left her feeling excluded. She now volunteers to help prevent other students from having that same experience. Peña stated that helping others avoid that feeling is the primary reason she participates annually.
Pettit described the mums as a way for students to feel connected and cared for while attending school events. The process involves significant effort, with glitter often covering Pettit’s home, but she views the work as a way to ensure no student feels left out of the tradition.
