Salvation Army Provides Affordable Options to Help Students Shine at Prom and Graduation

As the end of the school year approaches, graduating high school students start looking forward to graduation and prom. And while these events are fun and memorable, sometimes finding the right dress can cause financial anxiety.

To help students find affordable dresses The Salvation Army in Guelph, Ont., hosts the annual “Princess Project” event, which aims to give students the chance to buy formal dresses, shoes, and accessories at a low price.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for students who don’t have much in their pocket.”

Grade 12 student Nora Shifflett was one of the 250 people that attended the event. She heard about it from her sister who was able to find her prom dress in 2019, thanks to the project.

“My older sister used this program when she graduated high school. It sounded like a great opportunity to find a nice dress at a price that is comfortable for me,” she said.

For Nora, it is important to save money right now.. In the summer she will be going on a trip to Europe, and in the fall, she will be moving to B.C. to start her post-secondary studies at the University of Victoria.

The dresses sold through the Princess Project are all priced at a flat rate of $20, no matter the design or size. Shoes and other accessories are all priced at $5. Nora along with two of her friends, were able to find the perfect prom dresses, and shoes for a total of $25 each.

“It was really nice to know that all of us could look for a dress and none of us were worried about it being $1,000. Browsing through the racks was the nicest thing about it. I didn’t have to worry about the price tag,” Nora said.

After being able to save a good amount of money on her prom dress, Nora is now able to put the money she saved toward her upcoming and exciting life plans. She believes this project is a great opportunity for all students to find quality dresses regardless of their financial situation.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for students who don’t have much in their pocket. It is really great to know that there is a place where you can get a dress that’s within your price range,” she said.

“We had over 250 in attendance, sold over 150 dresses and raised over $3,200 that will support the Princess Project in the future and other Community and Family Services programs.”

This year marked the first time since before the pandemic that The Salvation Army in Guelph hosted the Princess Project. The event was a success thanks to the hard work of the staff and volunteers led by Administrative Co-ordinator Carla Holmes.

“We had over 250 in attendance, sold over 150 dresses and raised over $3,200 that will support the Princess Project in the future and other Community and Family Services programs. We had lots of community support through dress donations, prize donations and people talking up the event,” Carla said.

Due to the popularity of the Princess Project, Carla says they plan to expand next year’s event by including men’s wear for the first time.

 

By Juan Romero