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High-school students aim to make dreams come true
By Denise Dick
Photo
West Branch High School seniors Dottie Schlueter, left, and Mackenzie Shivers show off a few of the prom dresses donated for Project Prom. The program collects used prom dresses and offers them at no charge to high-school girls who need them. The dresses will be available from noon to 4 p.m. March 31 at the Salem Schools administration building, 1226 E. State St.
Beloit
Every high-school girl wants to feel like a princess on prom night, and a group of West Branch and Salem high-school students wants to make that dream come true for as many girls as possible.
Through Project Prom, people drop off old prom dresses. From noon to 4 p.m. March 31 at the Salem Schools Administration Building, 1226 E. State St., girls who otherwise may not have a dress may come pick out one of the dresses at no charge.
Mackenzie Shivers, 18, a West Branch senior, got involved with Project Prom after seeing how many it helped.
A prom dress can run anywhere from $300 to $600, and that doesn’t include alterations, shoes, jewelry, photographs, flowers or getting your hair and nails done, the students said.
“You feel like your prom has to be special, but you spend a lot of money,” Mackenzie said.
Jill DeRamo, a West Branch chemistry teacher and guidance counselor, said the program started six years ago. The schools took over from a church group that previously offered the dresses.
She estimated that so far this year, they’ve collected 60 dresses, from taffeta, crinoline and lace to slinky, off-the-shoulder numbers, but they have others from previous years.
The room at the Salem administration building is set up like a dress store, Mackenzie said. Dresses are organized by size. Music plays, and dressing rooms are set up.
Keith Davis from Create a Color Shoes in Hubbard donates shoes dyed to match the dresses of each girl and Casal Aveda Institute in Austintown contributes gift certificates for makeup, hairstyling or manicures, DeRamo said.
Senior Dottie Schlueter enjoys seeing the facial expressions of other girls when they find the perfect dress. Mackenzie said there are some that are real tear-jerkers.
“For some girls, this is their only chance to get a dress,” she said. “Finding that dress, for them it’s emotional.”
Katie Skolosh, Katie Whinnery, Lydia Burch, Kayla Coldsnow, Taylor Baum and Amber Adams, all seniors, are also part of the project.
Amber worked last year for the day of the event, and after seeing all of the girls it helped, she wanted to be involved this year from the beginning.
DeRamo said the girls who find their prom dresses aren’t required to show any proof of financial need. The only restriction is one dress per person.
Dresses may be dropped off at West Branch High School, or contributors may call or email DeRamo at 330-938-4406 or Jill. Deramo@WBWarriors.org to make other arrangements.
The project started to help girls in the two school districts, but it’s grown.
“We’ve had people come from Pennsylvania,” DeRamo said. “It’s open to everyone.”