The third annual “Say Yes To The Prom Dress” Collection Drive and Giveaway is being hosted by Panama Central School’s National Honor Society, and this year they are joined by Clymer Central School’s Social Justice Club. The giveaway days are set for Sunday, May 4 and Saturday, May 10, in Panama’s gymnasium from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Donations for the event are currently being accepted in the forms of new or gently used prom dresses, tuxedos, formal shoes, jewelry and accessories. Items for donation can be dropped off at either Panama or Clymer school.

Panama’s NHS advisor Helen Keefe has teamed up with Clymer’s Social Justice Club advisor Amber Brunco to help their respective clubs take on the event, and Keefe said a large number of items have already been donated.

“We have had a lot of things donated; hair accessories, jewelry, men’s shirts and ties, over 300 prom dresses, shoes, and other kinds of accessories like purses,” Keefe said. “Panama’s NHS is working on a project to build a room for the items that we’ve had donated so that students can utilize them for more than just prom, like if they are invited to a formal event or a last minute event and need something that is gently used, they can just run up and get something.”

All collected items available to students are free, and Keefe said they do not just have to be for prom, but can be used if someone is in need of anything in the collection for a different type of event as well. She added that she has worked with Brunco for 13 years and they still collaborate on different things throughout the year as English teachers at Panama and Clymer.

Pictured are Panama students Deidre Green, Autumn Rumaihi, Rachael Lisciandro, Sarah Golden, Ava Ecker, and Kirsten Chase, in their prom dresses they found during the collection and giveaway event. Submitted photo

“The prom dress drive is always a fun and amazing way to give back to our community,” Autumn Rumaihi, the student co-chair of the event said. “Our community has always been so giving to me and the prom dress drive is an amazing experience to give back and help teenagers who may not have the ability or want to spend a large amount of money on prom.”

Two students are currently spearheading the event.

“We know prom is expensive, and we know in some cases for students it is special to be able to go and buy their own outfits, but we want to help lessen the financial burden on families that prom can have, especially with the growing trend of kids going to two or three every year,” Keefe said. “We joke that someday someone will do a ‘Pretty in Pink’ and find something at the event and take it home and change it into their own design.”

In past years, Keefe said that kids who come to look for prom items will bond with other students they meet and make new friends. She also encouraged any other schools that may be interested in helping with the event to reach out. For the event, she said anyone is welcome and they can just show up with no fee for anything. If people see something they like they can try it on and take it home, or people can bring in things to donate as well.

Keefe said for students to have a good prom experience, sometimes the outfit can play a big role.

“My prom was in the late 80s,” Keefe said. “I don’t remember what I wore anymore. The experience is more important, but for some the outfit is important too. They can’t have this experience without the outfit and we want to help them do that.”

Keefe added that they have had many beautiful items donated and that they are looking to break the stigma around buying and wearing used prom dresses. Any item taken from their collection is free, opposed to what someone would have to pay at the store, and are in decent condition, though some may have to be spot cleaned. Anyone from any school district or anywhere else is welcome to come, and Keefe said in the future they would love to have other schools partner with them, and potentially even bring back home economics classes by encouraging students to sew their own designs.

“We just want to make sure students are able to have a great experience,” Keefe said. “If we can make one person who was not going to be able to go to prom because of the cost be able to go because they can find something from us for free, we’ll be happy. Ideally next year we can have people leave business cards and expand to offer maybe things like hair styles. We welcome other ideas for next year and will continue to do it, but we want people to become comfortable with the idea of used prom dresses and continue to make people happy with a new dress and prom experience.”

Any questions about the event can be directed to Keefe at Panama Central School at 716-782-2455 or Brunco at Clymer Central School at 716-355-4444.