5,500 dresses, 4,000 pieces of jewelry, 500 pairs of shoes, 350 handbags and more available to choose from! All at No Cost!
Feb. 27, 28 and March 1 (Tues., Wed., Thurs.) 4 – 8 p.m. and March 3 (Sat.), 9 a.m. – noon
(NOTE – prom closet is closed on Friday, March 2)
St. Andrew United Methodist Church is hosting the 10th Annual Prom Closet, which has grown from serving 35 young ladies in 2009 to almost 1,000 in 2017. Girls from ANYWHERE in need of a prom dress are invited to come select a dress and accessories, all at no cost. There are 5,500 dresses, sized 0 to 32, available to choose from, many of which have never been worn. Additionally, there are 4,000 pieces of jewelry, 500 pairs of shoes, and 350 handbags, and more! The only requirement is that girls must be present to select their dresses/accessories.
“As we reflect back over the last 10 years of Prom Closet, it’s amazing that we have grown from serving just 35 girls that first year to almost 1,000 last year,” said Devra Helffrich, an original organizer of the prom closet. “The Prom Closet has proven to be a wonderful way to reach out and help the community.”
Community members, businesses, organizations, and local groups donate dresses, shoes, wraps, jewelry, handbags, and other accessories for this annual event, organized and operated by The St. Andrew United Methodist Women. The Prom Closet was created to provide a unique shopping experience for young ladies who because of finances would be unable to attend prom. Area school counselors have been provided information on their campuses. Prom Closet organizers and volunteers confirm that not only is the need great, but the impact the dress makes on the girl and her family is immeasurable. Last year, the Prom Closet provided dresses to over 950 girls as well as 270 pairs of shoes and 1,700 pieces of jewelry.
“My students and I were so amazed when we arrived at The Prom Closet,” said Sylvia Cornelius, a teacher with Garland Can Academy who brought 12 students to shop in the Prom Closet in 2017. “To see so many beautiful gowns and have such sweet, spirited ladies working so hard to fulfill my students every desire was overwhelming. This program touches the lives of young women in such a magical way. One of my students came up to me and said, ‘Ms. Cornelius, I never thought I would be able to get a prom dress and go to the prom.’ Garland Can Academy is grateful for the acts of kindness shown to 12 of our young ladies. I used this experience to teach and minister to the girls about service and how it's better to give than to receive. We were blessed, and I give all praise to God for all persons responsible for this Prom Closet.”
Approximately 475 volunteers work throughout the week of Prom Closet to assist the girls in finding their perfect dresses and accessories!
St. Andrew is in need of donations of larger sized dresses, 12 and up, with a special emphasis on sizes 20+. All donations of dresses and accessories such as jewelry, handbags, shoes, and wraps, may be brought to Room 133 at St. Andrew. Tax receipts are available. Park in the east church parking lot off of Mira Vista.
Prom closet contact information:
Hotline: 469-385-1810
Website: www.standrewumc.org
Email: standrewpromcloset@gmail.com
Facebook: PromCloset:St.AndrewUMC
Instagram: promcloset.standrewumc
Twitter: @promclosetsaumc
Video: https://vimeo.com/180777804
WHERE: St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 1401 Mira Vista Drive, Plano, TX, 75093, in Smith Worship Center. (Enter on the east side of the church - Mira Vista and Plano Parkway.)