Schools involved include Clymer, Panama, Westfield, Sherman, Falconer, Chautauqua Lake, and possibly also Frewsburg and Southwestern. All districts involved are running the collection through their student councils or National Honor Societies. Amber Brunco, Clymer’s Student Council advisor, said the event started last year after Panama teacher Helen Keefe reached out to her.

“Helen Keefe from Panama reached out to me and asked if I would like to partner with her last year if we could get use of the Panama Methodist Church,” Brunco said. “Clymer donated around 100 dresses and had many students involved.”

With this year’s event involving multiple schools the collection is set to be much bigger and to involve more prom items than just dresses. Prom dresses, men’s dress wear, formal shoes, jewelry and hair accessories are all being collected.

Each of the five schools that are for sure participating have started accepting donations and will continue collecting until April 26. The collection drive will be held two separate weekends, April 20 and 27, at the Panama Methodist Church — 22 East Main Street, Panama — from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Rachael Lisciandro, LeAnne Lisciandro, Ashlynn Weaver, Ava Ecker, and Kirsten Chase during last year’s collection. Submitted photo

Last year’s event was announced through Clymer and Panama Schools’ morning announcements and on their respective websites. Students and community members were welcome to bring in any dresses to donate, and Brunco said one student’s grandma brought in a lot of discounted dresses she had bought from BonTon while it was going out of business. Brunco and Keefe also posted the event to Facebook, and Brunco added that with the help of the other school districts she hopes to get a wide variety of dresses and suits this year.

To donate, Brunco said items can be brought into any of the main offices at the five schools, saying that Frewsburg and Southwestern were contacted to participate but she and Keefe had not heard back, and that items will be brought to the correct advisors.

“Donations will be given away to students who can’t afford to buy a prom dress that costs $600 or $700,” Brunco said. “This way they can get it for free. There is also an option to swap out a dress, so someone can bring in a dress to donate and swap it out for a new one.”

While the event is for students who might not necessarily be able to afford prom wear, Brunco emphasized that the event is open to all students. Many brand new items will be available, including new makeup, offering students the option to save and a variety of choices.

“It’s not just this year’s styles,” Brunco said. “Items donated will be from past years as well so multiple styles will be available and students won’t be limited to the styles in the stores this season.”

This is a free event for all students, and staff and students will be at the Panama Methodist Church the two weekends of the event to help pick out and try on items and accessories. Brunco thanked Keefe for being the one behind the event.

“This is really Helen Keefe’s idea, and she is behind many ideas that I use in my classroom,” Brunco said. “Anyone is welcome to come out to this event.”