If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes an army to get ready for Homecoming.

Beginning in July of this year, the moms of the LH Area Band Club began ordering the supplies necessary for this weekend's festivities.

As the Wildcats take on W.T. White at the Boneyard Friday night, students will be adorned in school colors in celebration of all things Homecoming.

Arm bands and mums are the order of the day, or months, in this case.

"Thursday is the day," says Jennifer Pickett, LH Band Booster Club parent and volunteer. "We're closing in on 450 orders. You could certainly call it a labor of love."

"Booster Club parents make this fundraiser a success," she explains.

"Homecoming mums represent our second biggest fundraising opportunity of the year," says Pickett. "This year we hope to hit $13,000 in sales."

Every bit of the money raised goes to help cover operational costs for the LHHS Band.

It's money needed to make up for gaps in district funding.

It may sound like a lot of money, but in addition to helping the band cover costs for the year, this fundraiser also offers Lake Highlands students a great deal.

Each year the LH Band Club advertises their mum sale at the high school, and when students and their parents compare the retail cost of mums purchased elsewhere, they realize the bargain the band club is offering.

Most mums created in the LH Mum Factory cost students between $45 - $50, with armbands for the boys averaging around $30.

Helping keep the cost low is the free overhead provided by My Office, the new packing and shipping business located at Walnut Hill and Audelia.

Owner David Farris offered up the meeting room for assembly, as well as storage space for the hundreds of finished products, but it's back to business as usual as of today.

Thursday afternoon will find over 400 customers picking up their mums and armbands. Friday will find students decked-out for the game.

In honor of all those returning, and those still cheering from the halls of LHHS, here's to another great year - with thanks going out to the LH Band Club, for dressing everyone for the occasion.

For more information on the LH Band Booster Club, visit http://www.lakehighlandsbands.org.