Annual prom projects helps teens pick perfect prom outfit

<p>The formal gowns had gone unused for so long.</p><p>After cleaning out her closet, Kelly Staten researched places that would take her gently used dresses. The Franklin librarian kept running into dead ends. Staten wanted a place that would take the items and give them to someone who needed it. And she wanted to find a way to help local students in the Johnson County area.</p><p>So, she started an event that has been a spring staple at the Johnson County Public Library for about seven years.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]<p>Project Prom kicks off this week at the Clark-Pleasant and Franklin libraries. The event allows teens to shop donated, gently used and new prom dresses, tuxes and accessories so prom goers can find the perfect outfit for the quintessential high school dance. All of the items at Project Prom will be given to the teens for free.</p><p>Staten wanted the library to tackle the project as a way for to help it stay relevant and as a way to help cement libraries as community hubs, she said.</p><p>“We also like to provide resources to the community, this is a resource,” Staten said. “Libraries need to look for unique ways to change and stay relevant.”</p><p>Since Staten created the program, it has since grown into an event that annually draws around 300 people at each shopping event. Project Prom has been so popular that it has spawned a similar event to help teens get ready for homecoming and winter formal dances and has allowed the library to branch out in the community.</p><p>The program started about seven years ago. Library workers put out a call for donations and received enough dresses and some accessories that were enough to outfit about 100 prom-goers at the first events, Staten said.</p><p>“It was definitely a success. We did not know what to expect, but we were really pleased with that.”</p><p>Word-of-mouth and media stories grew the event. Donations of gowns and accessories poured in. Businesses began partnering with the library to offer giveaways at the event. Some people told volunteers that they had driven hours to pick out their free prom attire, Staten said.</p><p>Families are estimated to spend about $1,000 on each child for prom, Staten said.</p><p>Some families cannot or do not want to spend the money, which is helping make Project Prom an alternative for those families, she said.</p><p>“People do not want to spend that kind of money or they can’t, so we are fulfilling that need in the community,” Staten said.</p><p>The next goal is for organizers to find a way to get more clothing for young men who need it, she said. Young men who come to Project Prom have a few tuxes they can choose from and there have also been donations of ties.</p><p>But young men typically rent their tuxes for prom, which makes the amount of tuxes available for donation scarce. This year, young men who attend the event will be entered into a drawing for a free tuxedo from a downtown Franklin boutique, Staten said.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Teens can get the perfect prom wear at an event hosted by the Johnson County Public Library.</p><p>Project Prom will be at the following times:</p><p><strong>Clark-Pleasant library:</strong> noon-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. The library is at 530 Tracy Road, Whiteland.</p><p><strong>Franklin library</strong>, 1-3 p.m. Sunday and 3-8 p.m. April 1 and 2 and 2-5 p.m. Wednesday. The library is at 401 State St.</p><p>Dresses, tuxes, shoes and accessories are free at the event.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="At a glance" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>The library is accepting new and gently used donations for the Project Prom project.</p><p>They accept gowns, tuxes, accessories and shoes.</p><p>To donate, take the item to any Johnson County Library branch. Donations are accepted year round.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]