Lake County >>> Senior prom isn’t just fodder for nearly every high school movie known to mankind — Sixteen Candles, Never Been Kissed, the list goes on — it’s an important rite of passage for real life teenagers. For many, it’s a goodbye to childhood, a last hurrah before college and impending adulthood.
But for some Lake County students, prom isn’t a reality — not when the cost of attending is so steep. Dresses and tuxes, shoes and accessories, up-dos, manicures and haircuts, not to mention the price of a ticket and transportation to and from the event, it all adds up, often reaching the triple digits.
Under normal circumstances it’s not affordable for some students and their families, and the last two years haven’t even been normal. Many lost their homes in the fires, were forced to relocate and rebuild, incurring expenses no one could have foreseen. Attire and accessories for prom likely have not been high on the list of priorities.
There are some students who cannot afford a prom ticket, let alone everything that goes along with it. Last year at the Lower Lake High School prom, there were only about fifty students in attendance, said Kimbralee Guerra of the Harbor on Main Youth Resource Center, a division of Redwood Community Services.
So to help offset the costs of prom, a few organizations have come together to provide free formal clothes, accessories and services for both female and male students around the lake. Called the Lake County Prom Project 2017, the endeavor is a collaboration between Lake County Office of Education Healthy Start, Redwood Community Services, Lake Family Resource Center and Soroptimist International of Clear Lake.
The event began four years ago and was not nearly as inclusive as it is now. The prom project originally focused on the South Shore and gave away only dresses, shoes and accessories. But when the Harbor on Main came on board, they brought the North Shore into the fold, and also added in a raffle and services for the day of the dance. And the event continues to expand — this is the first year men’s attire has been added into the mix.
On March 31 and April 1, students from across the county are invited to the Lower Lake High School Fitness Center to grab their free new and gently used dresses and tuxes, as well as enter giveaways for hair and makeup, nails and other services.
But before that date arrives, the organizers of the prom project are looking for donations of not only attire and accessories for men and women, but donations from business, such as hair and nail salons. They’re also looking to acquire corsages and bouttonieres from the local FFA clubs and the Lower Lake High School horticulture class.
“These memories will last forever and a lot of them [students] wont have the opportunity to take part in it if they don’t have the support from their community,” said Guerra.
Lisa Gilmore of Healthy Start didn’t attend her prom, and missing out on the night only makes her that much more impassioned about the Prom Project. “I’m a little bit regretful I didn’t get that experience, so I think it’s important for the kids,” she expressed. “I would hate to have money or a dress stop a child from participating.”
But it’s not just about the memories. The dance is a healthy and safe extracurricular activity, and gives students a positive experience. Living in a rural community where everything is spread out, it can be difficult for students to become involved. RCS is focused on providing as many of these opportunities as possible, especially when more detrimental activities are so accessible.
“I think it’s important for students to find healthy opportunities to be social and really engage in our community,” Guerra said.
Providing students with a great prom experience can also have a positive ripple effect and build momentum for years to come. The freshmen and sophomores who witness the juniors and seniors enjoying prom will have more excitement for their own dance when it rolls around. And so the event becomes better and better.
While it might be difficult to encourage students to partake in sports and art, which are long and time consuming, prom is only for a few hours on a Saturday evening. “Because it’s a one night event it’s so much more doable,” said Guerra. “If we can get them engaged for one night, I fell like that’s a success.”
The Harbor on Main Youth Resource Center is even arranging transportation to the event. If needed, call 994-5486 and ask for Krissie.
Donations of attire for men and women, shoes, accessories, services and money can be delivered to the Youth Resource Center Center at 16170 Main St., Suite F, Lower Lake. For more information, call Lisa Gilmore at 994-6471 ext 2788.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
