More than 100 teenagers from across New York City waited in the pouring rain on Saturday for a chance to score a free prom outfit.
Senior prom may be an overrated rite of passage, or a quintessential high school experience, but it’s not cheap. Teens in the Northeast spend $700 per prom on average, according to a Yahoo! survey of more than 1,700 students across the country.
The Brooklyn Prom Project aims to address those costs by giving away racks of formal attire to teenagers across the city. It’s part of Operation Prom National Network, an organization started 20 years ago by Noel D’Allacco, a former event planner who found that she and her clients had leftover bridesmaid dresses.
“It’s a labor of love,” said Dawn Simon, the co-director of the Brooklyn Prom Project, which is now in its 11th year.
“Prom is a rite of passage for high school graduating seniors,” said Simon. “If we can help offset those expenses by providing them with free shoes, a gown, a tuxedo, a dress, then we know that we are really making an impact, because, let’s face it, the cost of a prom these days can be the cost of a mini-wedding.”
Saturday's giveaway took place inside the gymnasium of a high school in Downtown Brooklyn. Hip-hop music blared inside as dozens of dress racks were arranged in rows. Tables proffered accessories like ties and gloves. Volunteer stylists and fitting experts helped people find their dream outfit.
“I felt emotional,” said Marie Cineus, who was there with her daughter, Pierrelyn, 17. “It feels good to be here. You see people helping each other. Especially now with the economy, it’s very tough for some families.”
After about an hour, Pierrelyn found a dress to wear to prom. It was red with sparkles and flowers.
A volunteer helps a student tie a tie at Saturday's event.
Charles Wang, a student at Staten Island Technical High School, was looking for formal attire.
“It was pretty hectic, it was almost like thrifting, you have to find the thing that you want before someone else takes it,” he said. “But there was a lot of help, whoever I asked they would always actually take the time and take the effort to find what I need.”
He eventually scored a matching blazer, pants, shirt and tie.
For Wang, the day offered an unexpected opportunity.
“I learned how to tie a tie today,” he said.
Elizabeth Ferreira, a teacher at the Brooklyn School for Social Justice in Bushwick, was there with her daughter, Villinez, as well as 20 of her students.
Ferreira said that many of her students are undocumented, and were stunned that they would be getting dresses or suits for free.
“A lot of them were not going to prom,” said Ferreria. “They didn’t have the money, but now that they got the dress for free, they will be selling chocolates and little things to pay for prom.”
Villinez, who was standing beside her, beamed as she held a black mermaid dress she planned to wear to her own prom.
“This is actually so exciting,” said Villinez, a senior at Forest Hills High School. “We had to wake up early, we were like 44th on line and my mom’s students were in the 20s… But it was all worth it.”
You can learn about upcoming prom giveaways at Operation Prom National Network.
