Going to prom can be pretty expensive. One of the costliest items could be the prom dress. Some girls borrow dresses — others spend hundreds of dollars on bejeweled designer items.
But now Forrest General Hospital's Spirit Girls are trying to help with the dress expenditures. Sunday they're holding their annual "Prom-A-Palooza" — where girls can rent donated, in-style prom dresses for $12.
"We have so many (dresses)," said Tyra Willamor, Spirit Girls and Sweeteas coordinator. "A lot of them are from local dress stores.
"Some of them still have the price tags on them."
The Spirit Girl teen board was developed in an effort to reach young women through events targeted at promoting self-esteem and encouraging healthy lifestyles. Spirit Girls participate in educational programs, community and charitable events.
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The funds collected for the rentals are used to pay for dry cleaning and dress storage for the following year.
This is "Prom-A-Palooza's" third year and there are about 600 dresses available. The Spirit Girls collected about 150 dresses this year, in part, by holding a donation drive and setting up collection boxes at their high schools.
"We saw a need in the community of girls not being able to attend prom because of price," Willamor said.
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This is the second year the event has been held at Bliss Bridal in downtown Hattiesburg.
"It's the one day we don't plan any events so the store can be open for the Spirit Girls," said owner Katie Ward.
Ward let the Spirit Girls set up racks of dresses in her store Thursday so promgoers can really feel like they're getting the shopping experience. Their rented gowns come with coupons for free dry cleaning.
There are also shoes and jewelry to go with the gowns. Jewelry can be kept.
This year there are sequined, glittery and jeweled gowns, velvet and animal print dresses and simpler styles for the girl who likes a lower-key look. They come in all sizes and colors.
Any high school girl can participate in Prom-A-Palooza.
"Many girls will go out and spend several hundred dollars on a prom dress that you only wear one night," said Spirit Girl Katie Carlisle. She was holding a red, sequined gown.
"It's super in-style right now," she said.
Willamor said "Prom-A-Palooza" is a good way for high school girls to reach out to their peers.
"This is a way for girls to help girls their age," she said. "They're targeting girls they sit next to in class, they go to football games with, they go to church with."
Spirit Girl Sophie Boover expects the girls who come to "Prom-A-Palooza" to be delighted.
"Seeing all the racks — seeing all the pretty dresses — they're going to just feel like they can have a good night and afford it," she said. "It's their night to shine."
Prom-A-Palooza: If you go
What: Approximately 600 prom gowns for rent for $12 each
When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday
Where: Bliss Bridal, 501 Main St. #101, Hattiesburg
Sponsored by: Forrest General Hospital's Spirit Girls
Contact Ellen Ciurczak at eciurczak@gannett.com. Follow @educellen on Twitter.
https://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/hattiesburg/2020/03/06/spirit-girls-hold-prom-palooza-prom-dresses-rent-12/4866534002/
2020-03-06 17:06:26Z
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