PORT NECHES — Jamie Majors became a tiny Cardinal cheerleader, decked out in her red and white uniform. The kindergartner didn’t recall where she got the outfit, but she knew she paid a dollar to wear it to Ridgewood Elementary in Port Neches on Monday.

Proceeds from a week of outrageous dressing will go toward Manning’s gift cards for the Hurricane Ike Recovery Week for Sims Elementary project. Monday was red and white day, in honor of the Bridge City school’s colors, and Majors said she was glad to dress the part.

“My school’s okay, my family’s okay and my house is okay,” 6-year-old Majors said.

She said she’d heard Hurricane Ike damaged homes and schools in Bridge City and she wanted to help other children. Teachers there will buy supplies with cards from the Port Neches students.

Julie Gauthier, Ridgewood principal, said staffers were grateful at finding their own school in good shape.

“We had very little damage here,” she said, as students in all manner of red and white shirts, bandanas and hats assembled for photographs.

“In times of tragedy it is always beneficial to lend a helping hand. I know this will be a rewarding project for both our students and teachers,” Gauther wrote in a letter explaining the project to parents and students.

Avery Pardue, 7, said Ike’s Bridge City damage affected her family.

“My grammy’s roof blew off,” she said.

Aaliyah Emerson, 6, said she saw a picture of her uncle’s relative’s water-damaged home and Keaton Degeyter’s aunt had a hard time in Bridge City.

“They lost everything,” he said.

The project is making students know they can help, Gauthier said.

When asked if they thought Sims students would do the same for them, they responded with a unified “yes.”

Here’s the dress-up day schedule”