HANCOCK COUNTY — High school students in Hancock County don’t have to drop big bucks on the big dance.
As prom approaches, initiatives associated with all four of the county’s school corporations have been offering economical opportunities for formal wear. The programs help students looking for attire that’s often pricey and most likely will be worn only once. They also help residents in need and a high school club as well.
At Greenfield-Central High School, the room neighboring Michelle Overman’s family and consumer sciences classroom is lined with racks filled with dresses.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryThe school’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter started the initiative in 2017. Overman, Greenfield-Central’s FCCLA adviser, said it resulted from conversations students were having around homecoming about spending so much money on dresses they would wear for only one occasion.
A group of them decided to bring their dresses to school to see whether any of their fellow students could benefit. Overman said about 15 dresses were available ahead of homecoming.
Students expressed a desire for the initiative to return for prom, so FCCLA students ran with it, Overman said. They started collecting and now what’s known as the Formal Closet has more than 400 dresses.
“It’s been really cool to see it grow,” Overman said.
It costs $10 to rent a dress, which are dry-cleaned after a student picks one out, Overman explained.
The Formal Closet also offers jewelry and purses along with some menswear, including bow ties, suspenders and jackets.
About seven students rented from the Formal Closet during its first year, and about 15 students have so far this year, Overman said. She added about eight have picked out dresses for the upcoming prom, but she wouldn’t be surprised if that number rises after the dance’s tickets go on sale.
The Formal Closet accepts donations at the high school’s main office, Overman said. Those with questions can contact her at [email protected].
Evelyn Fletcher, a senior at Greenfield-Central High School, said she’s donated about six of her dresses to the Formal Closet.
“Dresses are really expensive, so this is a cheap way for people to borrow dresses,” she said.
The selection offers a good variety, she continued.
“There’s all different sizes and styles,” she said.
Anna Rowlett, a junior at Greenfield-Central, rented one of the Formal Closet’s dresses for homecoming earlier this year.
“You only have to pay $10, and it was helping out the club,” she said.
Jasalyn Vest, a Greenfield-Central sophomore, called the Formal Closet a comfortable place to pick out a dress. Students can put the money they saved toward other priorities on young people’s minds, such as vehicle payments and college.
Southern Hancock and Mt. Vernon school corporations held events last month that offered formal dresses.
Mt. Vernon’s asked for an exchange of donations to the Angel Connection Food Pantry in McCordsville. Jenny Sweet coordinated the effort along with one before the school’s Snow Whirl dance in December.
Sweet has two daughters — a junior at Mt. Vernon and a recent college graduate. She said she knows all too well the concept of getting a brand new dress that’s worn once before it’s destined for a closet.
There had to be a better use for them, she figured. That certainty, combined with how expensive prom can be with attire, tickets and dinners, drove her to start the initiative.
Sweet is helping Trisha Atkins and Debra Cochran with Hancock County Once Upon a Prom at Eastern Hancock High School on Sunday.
Atkins said she has followed the Brown County Glass Slipper Event, a similar initiative, for the past two years and thought something like it would work well in Hancock County.
High school students who come out on Sunday can get a free dress while supplies last. Attendees do not have to be Eastern Hancock or even Hancock County students, Atkins said.
Students are asked to bring a nonperishable food item or personal hygiene/toiletry item in exchange for the dresses. Items will be donated to the schools’ food pantry.
Shoes, jewelry and accessories will also be available along with prom-related giveaways from local businesses.
“We are hopeful that this will be an amazing event and that girls who maybe couldn’t have attended prom otherwise can now do so,” Atkins said.
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WHAT: Hancock County Once Upon a Prom
WHEN: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: Multi-Purpose Room at Eastern Hancock High School, 10320 County Road 250N, Charlottesville
DETAILS: Bring any nonperishable food item or personal hygiene/toiletry item to be donated to Eastern Hancock student food pantry program and take home a free new or gently used dress while supplies last
VIP HOUR: Those who want to donate a dress and get a new dress are invited to shop early between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.
INFORMATION: [email protected], [email protected]
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