The South Windsor Public Library is hosting its Promwear Drive from March 1st to May 29th, collecting prom dresses and suits to help teenagers in need attend prom with confidence.
The drive is a month-long event fueled by community donations; it positively impacts students by allowing them to select the specific dress or suit they want from the collection. All donations are prom-suitable and of excellent quality.
Rather than a school event, prom is seen as a major life event. It is a quintessential moment that emphasizes the “final act” before graduation, making it integral to the high school experience.
One challenge students face is financial feasibility, even though prom seems like such a given, the costs add up quickly: tickets, bouquets of flowers, and dresses.
“Promwear is getting more and more expensive and can be too pricey for many families,” Young Adult Librarian Bella Feest said. “By providing promwear to those that need it, hopefully the pressure of buying a dress or a suit is off!”
The biggest obstacle in managing and organizing the promwear drive is getting the word out; while there are numerous dresses for people to select, they may not all find their way to teens this year if word doesn’t spread. The second biggest challenge is the lack of masculine attire and suit donations.
“Seeing the community come together and donate their own prom dresses has been heartwarming,” Feest explained. “So many people want to make a difference in someone’s life, and it’s beautiful.”
Feest deliberately branded the program a “promwear” drive instead of a”prom dress” drive to ensure everyone feels comfortable picking out formal clothes and approaching the donation box.
“Finally, I hope to work more in tandem with SWHS to maybe host the drive there or promote it more,” Feest said.
Feest’s hope for the future is for the promwear drive to evolve by increasing the number of people to choose the promwear they want. Because the South Windsor Public Library currently has a large inventory, there will likely be many options available for next year as well. For the years to come, Feest also hopes the library receives a higher volume of suit donations.
Furthermore, the promwear drive demonstrates that the South Windsor Public Library is a resource that extends far beyond books and information.
“The library views itself as a community center, a place where you can serve all the needs of the community and additions to the information need,” SWPL Director Kevin Sullivan said.
This is the first year the South Windsor Public Library has hosted the promwear drive. Community members are encouraged to donate formal wear at the Young Adult section of the library, and students are welcome to stop by and pick up any items they may need.
