Prom Showcase goers get the goods

  • by Jennifer Kneuss
  • February 21, 2012
  • 360
                        
Summary: For the dozens of young women searching for their dream prom dress or for creative prom ideas, Prom Showcase 2012 fit the bill perfectly. The young ladies buzzed around the racks loaded with prom dresses like bees to honey. They all had one shared goal – to find the perfect prom dress at Prom Showcase 2012 on Feb. 20. Girls darted in and out of the dressing rooms, excitedly turning in front of mirrors and collecting comments and suggestions from friends, mothers, and volunteers. For some, the hunt was successful, and others found themselves waiting for another day. New Philadelphia resident Katie Colucy spotted a dress she loved, only to find that another teenager was already considering it. “I wanted to find an inexpensive prom dress today. I found one, but someone else liked it, too, so it doesn’t look like I’m going to be able to have it,” she admitted, as she and her mother, Cindy, waited patiently. Dover junior Abbi Dummermuth carried the black lace gown in question in her arms, finally making the decision that it would be ‘the dress’ for her for 2012. Dummermuth’s friend, Emily Burrell, helped her choose. “There are always a lot of requirements for Abbi, because she’s so tall, and it has to be the perfect length. But she found one,” said Burrell. Burrell did not try on any dresses herself, saying she was present to provide ‘moral support’ to her friend. “I only tried on two dresses today, and the dress I ended up getting was perfect for me,” commented Dummermuth as she clutched the now purchased gown. “It was sticking out on the rack when I saw it, and I said, ‘oh, man, that looks like a good dress for me!’ When I put it on, it just ended up fitting perfectly, so I knew it was my dress. I do not have a date yet, but you have to find the perfect shoes and dress before you get the date!” she exclaimed with a laugh. The Prom Showcase, held at the Dover Alliance Church gymnasium, is a yearly project of Safe Kids Tuscarawas, a coalition of local organizations whose goal it is to ensure that county children and youth grow up safe and healthy. Sellers keep the profits from sold dresses, and unsold dresses can be reclaimed or donated to Cinderella’s Closet, a no-cost prom dress shop also operated by Safe Kids. There, girls who need a dress, upon referral, can pick out a gown for themselves. “It’s such a wonderful project. We figured out a budget for renovating our Cinderella’s Closet, and we were a little short on funds,” said Barb Airgood of the Ohio State University Extension Office. The current Closet facility is in need of a new look to enhance the dress choosing experience, and organizers are looking for donations to rejuvenate it with a fresh coat of paint, mirrors, and décor. “The money donated from our accessory table will go toward that. You can make a donation for anything there that you like.” The accessory table Airgood referred to was loaded with glitzy shoes, glimmering handbags, and a variety of jewelry, all geared toward a special night out. Items were donated by organizers. Booths throughout the Prom Showcase area featured ideas on flowers, tuxedos, and accessories, and provided opportunities to explore fitness and health issues. There were also booths by Compass and the State Highway Patrol, where participants could try on goggles that simulated the dangers of drunk driving. “The goggle thing was really crazy. It really made me see how important it is not to drink and drive; in fact, not to drink at all,” admitted Indian Valley senior Courtney Oliver. “We do this because we want our teenagers in the community to be safe not only for prom, but always,” stated volunteer Carol Gregor. “But I also like to see the smiles on the girls’ faces when they look in the mirrors and see themselves in the dresses, and see how beautiful they are.”


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