Project Prom sends teens off in style
Prom fever has hit Southern Maryland and any young ladies in search of the perfect dress, shoes and jewelry should know that Project Prom Southern Maryland is ready to give them a prom night to remember, all free of cost.
On March 25, the founders of Project Prom Southern Maryland, Davita Stewart, LaKeysha BoydMoore and Robin Spriggs will assist local high school girls by getting them ready for junior and senior prom. The group’s mission is simple: “Let’s get young ladies dressed for prom,” and they are achieving their goal by changing up this year’s prom dress extravaganza.
“It’s our fourth year doing this project and now we’ve made it more intricate so it feels like their special day. We have time slots for them to come in so there are 10 girls per hour from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., which would allow us to service over 60 young ladies. But we don’t turn anyone down if they still want to come,” Spriggs said.
“This year it’s not just for juniors and seniors, it’s also for middle-school aged students who are attending their middle school formal,” Boyd-Moore said. “We have almost 300 dresses arranged by size, length and color, as well as an accessory table.”
On the day of the event, attendees will choose from an assortment of “new to them” formal dresses, shoes and accessories at no cost. They also enjoy an assortment of door prizes, including prom tickets, gift cards, tuxedo rental, hairstyling and more. This year the event will be held at LifeStyles Inc. in La Plata and it is free just by signing up.
The project is the result of a collaboration of a small group of women business owners who happen to be mothers all too familiar with the expense of prom.
“We all had high school seniors around the same year and we were talking about how expensive it was sending them to prom. Stewart and Spriggs have girls and I have a son. We knew they won’t ever wear these things again so we wanted to figure out a way to recycle these prom dresses. We all have a heart for service and wanted to do this for other parents with teens going to prom,” Boyd-Moore said.
The group held the first event in 2013 and have served more than 120 girls since the inception.
“I have two older girls and I knew that other young ladies were unable to go to prom,” Spriggs said. “We wanted to make sure there was enough dresses for girls of any race or size because when they look back at their high school years they will remember that is a special time in their life.”
Boyd-Moore and Spriggs believe that a prom dress is something that a girl will always cherish.
This year there is enough space for 70 girls in the area, that may be in need of prom attire. Boyd-Moore said in addition to prom dresses, there are also designer shoes, scarves and costume jewelry for the girls to choose from. There is also a seamstress available to make alterations.
“It can be a emotional day,” Boyd-Moore said. “In order to participate we ask that every girl come with a parent or guardian so it’s a great time for mothers and daughters to shop together. Picking out a prom dress is like picking out a wedding dress because it’s something that you will never forget.”
Spriggs said there is no criteria to participate and the event provides businesses and residents a way to get involved with helping the local youth with a life-changing experience.
Currently, Project Prom Southern Maryland is seeking additional prom dress donations as well as donations toward prom tickets, prom pictures, restaurants, prom flowers, transportation, barber service and beauty and nail salons.
“Every item that is brought in will change the life of a young lady. Some of them are apprehensive upon arrival but when they walk out of there they are smiling, cheerful and more confident,” Spriggs said.
For more information, go to www.projectpromsomd. com or find Project Prom Southern Maryland on Facebook.