Apex Youth Council hosts the first annual Rockin’ Reindeer Special Needs Dance

Jessica Dorcelien
Staff Writer

      On Dec. 12, the Apex Youth Council (AYC) invites guests ages fourteen and older with disabilities to the Rockin’ Reindeer Special Needs Dance from 7 to 9:30 pm at the Apex Community Center. The cost is $5 cash per person. The dress code for this event is casual to allow for comfortable dancing, snacking, and socializing. To aid in the smooth sailing of the event, volunteers of the AYC will be readily decorating, taking photos, supervising the refreshments, and interacting with guests. After the success of similar events held in both Cary and Raleigh, Allie Prelaske, a program director of the Town of Apex, has arranged the dance to feature a snack bar, DJ, dance floor, and a photographer. This event will make the first annual special needs dance hosted by the Town of Apex and the Apex Youth Council; however, the expected success of the event has opened the doors to similar recreational events in the near future. 

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​      The Rockin’ Reindeer Special Needs Dance held by the AYC will be one of many successful events held by the largely student-led organization. In July of this year, the council held a booth at the Old Fashioned Fourth of July Festival in downtown Apex where they raised over $400 that was later donated towards the funding of the upcoming dance. Additionally, the AYC has taken part in many events including the Adopt-a-Highway program, collectively donating 160 canned items to the Brown Bag Ministry of Apex, and volunteering at various events within the community such as Peak-a-Palooza, the Turkey Trot 5K, and the Goblins Grove Dance. Their largest event of the year is the annual Benefit Jam, a charity dance founded in 2012. The AYC looks forward to holiday caroling events at senior homes, organized blanket drives, and Easter eggs hunts, in addition to the social events held for the AYC members. 
​      The council is under the supervision of Laura Carraway, a Town of Apex advisor, and is headed by student co-chairs Lesley Chao and Jenna Minser with assistance from their executive board members: Rhea Jain, Andrew Reddix, Megha PB, Neethu Bipin, Hannah Koch, Taylor Carswell, and Olivia Oakley. The Apex Youth Council meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 6:15 to 7:15 pm at the Apex Community Center. Non-members are welcome to sit in at the meeting to eat snacks and play games.