Prom season is just around the corner, which is exciting for some but stressful for others. Long Island is coming together to make sure every girl feels special at her prom by collecting dresses and other prom accessories for the Long Island Volunteer Center Prom Boutique and distributing them to high school girls who need them, according to a press release.
The 24th annual Prom Boutique will be accepting donations through this Friday, March 25. Acceptable donations include new or gently used dresses, shoes, costume jewelry, and purses. The Prom Boutique also accepts monetary donations supporting this year’s cause as well as future prom boutiques.
Every year, the Long Island Volunteer Center, in collaboration with the Nassau Community College design program, collects prom dresses and other formal wear and hosts a special boutique event for high school students in need. All dresses are distributed free of charge to young women across Long Island who cannot easily afford the expense of a new outfit for prom, graduation, or another special ceremony.
The outreach efforts of high schools, at-risk youth agencies, group homes, churches, and various other community organizations make this program possible. Almost 100 local businesses, organizations and hundreds of individuals donate time, funding and resources to this cause every year. Over 1,500 young women benefit from this event annually.
“This gives people the opportunity to donate a special dress and know it will be going some place special,” said Sandy Viola of the Prom Boutique Steering Committee.
The shopping event for high school students will take place in April and is limited to girls participating and select volunteers to ensure privacy and exclusivity for every girl shopping.
“We try to make it really special for the girls,” said Viola. “The boutique is organized like a real department store and we do alterations throughout the hour to ensure that the dress fits them just right.”
For more information on how to donate, where to mail monetary donations, and drop off locations visit longislandvolunteercenter.org.
