DOWAGIAC — A Dowagiac woman looking to help local students fight off brain drain over the upcoming winter break will be offering a unique way to help raise funds for her mission this weekend.

Local nonprofit agency The Stepping Stone will be hosting a “Deck the Halls” open mic night from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday inside its community center, at 214 Miller St., Dowagiac. Doors to the venue open at 6:30 p.m.; tickets cost $6 for one adult, $10 for couples and $3 for students with ID.

All proceeds will go toward the center’s upcoming winter break program.

The event, hosted inside The Stepping Stone center’s kitchen area, will offer local talent a chance to show off their skills, said organizer Liz Dorsey. Musicians, stand-up or improvisational comedians, and poets are invited to perform during the evening, and will be admitted for free into the venue.

The show is intended for audiences 18 years or older, though no alcohol will be served during the evening.

Dorsey, who tutors elementary students attending The Stepping Stone’s Pebbles after-school program, is looking to raise between $100 and $150 through the event. The money will go toward a special eight-day camp she is organizing at the community center for local elementary students during the district’s winter break, from Dec. 26-29 and Jan. 2-5, she said.

During the camp, students will have a chance to get out of the house and enjoy a number of different activities, including watching movies, visiting the local history museum, leaning how to play Yahtzee and more. The community center will also serve lunch.

“It will be a fun experience for the children, but we will also include lots of learning opportunities,” Dorsey said. “This way, they will not forget all the lessons they learned in class over the two-week break.”

The Dowagiac woman, who has worked as a tutor with the after-school program since September, said that the camp will also get children out of the house during the winter season, a time when many children begin to suffer from cabin fever.

“Winter break used to be a very boring time for my brother and I growing up,” Dorsey said. “As a kid you have a lot of pent up energy that you want to release, especially when you’re cooped up inside all day.”

So far, eight children have registered for the camp, Dorsey said. Parents who want to enroll their children in the upcoming program may obtain a registration form by calling The Stepping Stone at (269) 782-8934.

People interested in performing during the open mic night Saturday or who would like more info about the show may call or text Dorsey at (269) 414-2124.