The St. Andrew 16th Annual Prom Closet is scheduled for February 18-20 and February 24 to March 1 at St. Andrew Methodist Church, and donations are open now.
Every year, hundreds of teens make appointments at the church to “shop” for prom dresses and accessories for one of the United State’s most popular rights-of-passage.
“This month we begin asking for the community’s help in providing donations of dresses and accessories,” said Devra Helffrich, a founder of the St. Andrew Prom Closet, which was created to provide a unique shopping experience for young ladies who because of finances would be unable to attend prom. “Start the New Year with a clean closet and bring us your gently used dresses as well as shoes, jewelry, and handbags! We also have an option to purchase items for the girls through our Amazon shopping link, which will be on the Prom Closet website. Each year, we depend on donations from individuals, local groups and businesses to provide the many items needed to complete each girl’s prom ensemble.”
There are 40 shopping spots per each 90-minute time slot, which can be made at standrewmethodist.org/prom. Each shopper must be present to select the accessories and may bring a guest who is 16 or older. A volunteer will work with each student throughout the process.
“For the St. Andrew Methodist Women, Prom Closet is a year-round labor of love,” said Rev. Arthur Jones, senior pastor at St. Andrew. “This dedicated group of women, combined with the many volunteers who make it happen each year, know its value. Each volunteer strives to provide an uplifting experience by letting the young ladies know they are loved, and they are beautiful. The Prom Closet has grown into such an incredible outreach program in North Texas and beyond because of the love and hard work of our volunteers. Words are not enough to thank them for going above and beyond each year to make prom dreams come true.”
Donations of clean, new or gently-used prom dresses (size 0-30), jewelry, shoes, handbags and wraps can be dropped off at 1401 Mira Vista Blvd. during designated drop-off hours. In addition to donations, the program is in need of volunteers.
“Prom Closet needs many volunteers, and we hope you will consider signing up,” added Helffrich. “It is such a joyful and heartwarming place, and there are volunteer positions to suit every individual from set-up to check-in and check-out, to serving as personal shoppers for the girls. Join us!”
