By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great local journalism.
Prom-ising project pleases
Group helps teens with dances high costs
Placeholder Image
Forsyth County News
It’s known as the “night to remember” or the “time of your life.”

But prom, often considered an American rite of passage, is never known as inexpensive.

The Junior Service League of Forsyth County, a women’s service organization, put together a prom project that helped 11 girls from Forsyth Central and North Forsyth high schools attend their senior proms.

First-year members of the group selected the project.

“There’s so many organizations that just give dresses, but then don’t help with the other aspects that can be very costly,” said Kyla McDonough, provisional members chairwoman.

“They thought it would be a neat idea to do a comprehensive package for prom.”

The women organized a day for dress and accessory shopping two weeks before the dance and full pampering on the big day.

More than 100 dresses in varying sizes were donated for girls to choose from, McDonough said. They’ll return the dresses after their proms so girls in future years can wear them.

McDonough said she hopes the program will become an annual project for the provisional members, as it fits with the organization’s mission of empowering women and children.

President Heather Tallant said the junior service league plans to grow the project each year.

“We’re excited to see where it goes,” she said.

Next year, club members hope to include all five county high schools and maybe also help boys prepare. With community support, Tallant believes they can.

This year, the group reached out to people they knew for hairdressing, beautician and dry cleaning services, as well as using the chamber of commerce facility for the girls to prep.

“The girls are just so great to work with,” Tallant said. “You can tell that they really do appreciate what we’re doing for them.”

At North, counselor Kim Haynes made a schoolwide announcement, directing girls in need of financial help for prom to meet with her.

The junior service league told the schools that five girls could be selected, but Haynes had six.

“I figured if they were able to ask for help, if they needed it badly enough to ask for it, then they really needed it,” she said.

The organization agreed to help all six.

Haynes said some people will always need assistance, even when the economy is good.

“[Prom] is a big deal,” she said. “I still talk about my senior prom, and I’ve been out of high school 25 years. It’s something you never forget.”