Teens and their guardians shop during a Project Prom event last year at the Franklin Library. Last year 227 dresses and 30 suits were given away for free across two events.
Submitted by JCPL
Since its inception in 2013, Project Prom has provided more than 1,300 free prom dresses to teenagers.
Every year, the Johnson County Public Library hosts an event for students to pick out prom dresses, tuxes and accessories called Project Prom. The items are donated by the community and are collected year-round at any JCPL location, Josephine Whitaker, programming assistant at the White River Branch.
With no questions asked, any teenager attending prom can get a free dress or tux from Project Prom, she said.
“Prom is expensive as it is,” Whitaker said. “Not everybody can get lucky with a Sears sale or something.”
This year there are five different shopping days for Project Prom. All events will be held in the Book Barn behind the Franklin Library, 401 State St. The first events are this weekend; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There are three more events the following week: March 20 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., March 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and March 24 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Teens do not have to be a Johnson County resident to shop the event. People from across the state visit Project Prom to get a free dress, Whitaker said.
Last year, nearly 400 teenagers visited the two-day event and took home 227 dresses and 30 suits.
Project Prom helps fill an “important need” for students who may not otherwise be able to attend prom, she said.
“Lots of people want to get dressed up and prom is one of those changes,” Whitaker said. “And why should it break your bank when there are plenty of places and opportunities like (our events) to get it for free and not have to be picky about what you want?”
While this year’s inventory is still being counted, but Whitaker estimates there will be about 600 dresses on hand to give away, as well as suits and tuxedos and accessories. About two years ago, JCPL had about 1,200 dresses on hand donated from the community, she said. The library had so many dresses at one point, they began donating dresses to other non-profits and second-hand stores.
The entire day brings an “air of excitement,” for teenagers and their parents, she said.
“It’s an important community builder to have an event that is no strings attached. There’s no expectations…” Whitaker said. “And the great thing about not only this event, but the library is that we can just say ‘Yeah, have it.’ ‘Yeah, I want to provide this service to you so that you can have an easier day and easier prom. I think that’s a really important part that Project Prom plays.”
The project wouldn’t be possible without donations from the community, Whitaker said.
If you go
Who: Project Prom
What: Free prom dresses, tuxes, shoes and accessories
When: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., March 20 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., March 23 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and March 24 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: The Book Barn behind the Franklin Library, 401 State St.
