To say prom is important in Emery County would be an understatement. Year after year the community gathers together as the junior class presents their annual promenade dance and celebrates a grand moment together. However, along with this event comes the stress of acquiring a prom dress, something which can cause financial stress to students and parents alike.
To help remedy this, the high school hosts a yearly Prom Dress Exchange, collecting community donations and making it so that every girl can attend the prom.
“For as long as I can remember, we have ensured that every junior who wants to attend prom has a date. In recent years, we realized that many girls were hesitant to go because they couldn’t afford a dress. To help, we began collecting donations from the community to provide dresses for those in need,” said Tisha Thornley, one of the masterminds behind the program,” As word spread about our “Prom Dress Closet,” girls from all backgrounds became interested in seeing what was available. Some needed a free or low-cost dress, while others simply didn’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a gown for one night. This eventually led to the creation of our prom dress exchange.”
Since its inception, the program has seen a mass growth in popularity. As Thornley described it,” Today, we have hundreds of dresses available for students to browse, try on, and take home for under $20. Thanks to this effort, every girl who wants to attend prom can do so without worrying about the cost of a dress, shoes, or accessories.”
The exchange provides an average of 20-40 students each year with an outfit for the prom, but it also works to empower those who participate. “It’s about creating a special night where girls can come together, laugh, support one another, and leave feeling confident and beautiful.”
This growth also expands to the dress collection process, outside of public donations the school has partnered with the Cinderella Project, an organization that hosts pop-up shops to provide schools with affordable formal wear.
The school also obtains dresses through donations, although other non-dress items are accepted as well. This can include shoes, earrings, necklaces and bracelets.
The Emery High School Prom Dress Exchange will take place on Monday, Feb. 3 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Emery High. The school is still searching for donations. For those interested in giving to the exchange, you can contact Tisha Thornley or Courtnee Justice at Emery High, drop off your donation at the school’s front office during regular hours or drop them off the night of the event.