Galt’s Night to Shine
Church to host prom for many students with special needs
The luxury of finding the perfect dress, having hair and make-up done and experiencing a night of jubilance is what Horizon Church in Galt is offering students with disabilities with its Night to Shine prom.
Night to Shine is an event that was created by the Tim Tebow Foundation to celebrate people with special needs by dedicating an evening to them. For many students with disabilities they do not get to attend high school dances, which encouraged Horizons senior pastor Tim Self to become a host church and offer the event to people in the community.
The event has garnered much local attention and positive feedback, as well as community support. The church has had to stop accepting volunteers after all the attention received from holding the event last year.
“The conversation was not do we want to do this, it was we are going to do this and after that we filled out the applications and got started planning the event,” Kevin Brown, the associate pastor to Life Groups and Families at Horizon Church, said.
For many young girls, finding the perfect dress to wear is a large part of the prom experience and excitement. Horizon church has hosted a King's and Queen's Prom Boutique for prom dresses and suits so that guests attending the event can find a ravishing ensemble.
The guests can visit the boutiques and find a dress tailored to their physiques, according to Cindy Parkerson, a volunteer at Horizon Church. The church has a quilting mission that helps alter the dresses and suits for guests.
“We provide each guest a dress with accessories and shoes for the evening, all at no cost to attendees,” Parkerson said.
The church is able to stock their boutique with dresses, and suits from donations from local shops and stores. The church received a donation of over 70 dresses from a shop owner in Sutterville.
Guests are able to receive a multitude of services offered by community volunteers.
“The night of the event, girls can register to get their hair and nails done as well as their make-up by local beauticians that volunteer their time and services to help make this evening special for the teens,” Parkerson said.
A team of make-up artists attends the event on standby if any guests need any beauty touch-ups.
Night to Shine is also sponsored by the Men’s Warehouse, which offers special discounts to young men looking to purchase a suit or shoes for the evening.
The church even offers a shoeshine before the big event.
“Everything that we provide our guests is from local volunteers that want to help make this evening as special as possible to the people that attend. There is no way that you can attend this event without your heart feeling so full,” Parkerson said.
The evening is devoted to making guests feel happy and loved, according to Parkerson. Guests attending the event are given star treatment as they walk down the red carpet to their prom. The evening is filled with dancing and music.
“The evening concludes with a crowning ceremony, each guest gets a crown to wear, and they are crowned king and queen of their prom,” Parkerson said.
Night to Shine will be held at Hutchins Street Square at 125 S. Hutchins St. on Friday, Feb 8, from 6 to 9 p.m.