More than 40 children from several Holy Neck area churches attended a Youth Gala at Mount Sinai Baptist Church on Saturday.

According to a news release, the children “dressed in their finest to be honored and served a three-course dinner by a committed team of volunteers.”

The event was the brainchild of Suffolk native and Mount Sinai member Evelyn Hunter, “who wanted a way to respond to a grieving child.”

“Letting them know that we adults are always there for them — whatever they may need — was important,” Hunter stated.

“After intercessory prayer, the vision of honoring children, letting them know their (special qualities), and, most importantly, that God knows each of their names, became the basis of this program.”

Donations of time and labor, decorations, food and money helped make the event possible. Each child walked a red carpet. “Boys were dubbed with a crystal-encrusted pendant, while the girls were crowned,” according to the release.

Carnell Lawrence provided music, poet and playwright Vernettia Rawls Gibbs gave a statement of beliefs and nurse practitioner Carrie Wiggins reminded the youth “that no one will ever love them as much as the adults in their church lives.”

“Call us — reach out to us — when you need anything at all,” Wiggins reportedly implored.

Youth mentor and former professional basketball player Teko Wynder was guest speaker, encouraging the children to make healthy choices.

Wynder, a prevention specialist at Western Tidewater Community Services Board and a city mentor of the year in 2014, shared his life story and offered advice to any would-be professional athletes.

“It’s not enough to dream of playing basketball, football or baseball professionally, because in reality, only about 1.5 percent of high school students make it to that level,” he reportedly said.

“You must have a back-up plan. Know what an education can do for you.”

Citing some recent high-profile cases in the news, Wynder told the boys “it is never OK to put your hands on a female in a negative way.” He told the girls, “Carry yourselves in a way that demands respect, and you will get it.”