Pickerington Public Library hosts giveaway
Mikaylah Phares arrived at the Pickerington Public Library with her mother Saturday, but unlike most typical library patrons, they were not there to check out books. Their mission was to pick out the perfect gown for the 18-year-old’s upcoming senior prom at Pickerington Central High School.
The library’s front lobby had been transformed into a formal wear store, with hundreds of dresses of all colors, styles and sizes. When Phares saw a burgundy and gold gown with an embellished top and a swaying skirt, she snatched it from the rack right away. She had seen a similar dress at Macy’s for more than $200.
Saturday, it could be hers free.
Columbus students participate to get a free dream dress
Phares was one of the nearly 400 high school students who had signed up to participate at the Pickerington Public Library’s free prom dress giveaway event. The goal was to help low-income families ease the financial burden associated with proms so high schoolers could enjoy their special day without worrying about money, said Colleen Bauman, community engagement manager at the library.
“We talk to students when they come to the library to learn about their concerns at school, especially during the pandemic,” Bauman said. “They told us that their schools haven’t had normal proms in two years. They finally get to have one this year, but it’s just so expensive to pay for everything and they don’t know if they can afford it.”
To help students lower the cost of proms, library staff got in touch with Fairy Goodmothers, a Columbus-based volunteer organization that collects and donates dresses to high school youths. The group provided more than 500 gowns — donated to the library by area residents or local retailers, mostly new and some gently used.
Many dresses still had their price tags, showing that they would cost hundreds of dollars at regular stores. Volunteers at the library also put together goodie bags for each participant – featuring small items such as face masks, makeup sets and fragrances – to help soon-to-be graduates celebrate the end of their high school careers.
“We have students from all over signing up, from Circleville and the Fairfield County area down south to Plain City up north,” Bauman said. “We have people who drove from hours away for the event, and they were telling me that there’s no way they could afford these dresses otherwise.”
More central Ohio proms expected to go back to normal
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, central Ohio high school students have had to adapt and get creative to salvage the end-of-school tradition.
In 2020, with most area districts canceling proms, seniors wore carefully selected gowns around the house and attended virtual dance parties as an alternative way to celebrate.
Last year, proms were held in most schools but looked a little different. Administrators made use of contact-tracing forms, rapid COVID-19 tests, mask requirements and no slow-dancing policies to keep attendees safe.
With mask mandates and other COVID-19 safety regulations easing throughout the state, however, more students are expecting their proms to go back to normal come this year.
Westerville City Schools is one of the central Ohio districts where schools made significant adjustments to their proms last year, including replacing the traditional prom with a dinner and awards gala. But all COVID-19 restrictions will be removed this year, and masks will be optional, said Charlie Boss, family engagement coordinator at the district.
Jacqueline Bryant, director of communications at Columbus City Schools, said prom protocols are still being worked out. Schools will hold their proms starting in late April and throughout May.
Prom dress giveaway helps families lower the cost of proms
Phares said that both Pickerington Central, her high school, and Eastland Career Center, where she takes additional classes, are not implementing any COVID-19-related restrictions this year.
“I’m just so happy that we get to have our prom this year, and I can’t for the whole experience of dressing amazingly and going all out with my outfit,” Phares said. “That’s why when my mom told me that the prom dress giveaway is coming to the library, I jumped on it right away.”
“I’m turning 18 today, and this dress is like a birthday present,” Phares added as she tried on a burgundy and gold gown in the library’s makeshift dressing room. “I like big, puffy and extra. Anything that pops and stands out, I want it!”
Jolin Liu, 17, considered a few options in the dressing room – a navy gown with floral embroidery, a pink dress with a floor-length tulle skirt and a sky-blue silk gown. Currently a third-year student at Pickerington Central, Liu is on the school’s prom committee and is helping set up the upcoming events.
“I’m glad that they have a free dress event because not many girls can afford them. I came here because I can’t afford expensive dresses like these,” Liu said. “Sometimes people spend maybe $500 on a dress alone, and plus they got to get their hair, makeup and nails done. This event really helped.”
Yilun Cheng is a Report for America corps member and covers immigration issues for The Dispatch. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation at bit.ly/3fNsGaZ.
@ChengYilun
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