Don’t stress the dress

Prom season is almost underway, and for most students at Habersham Central High School, this is one night they’ve looked forward to since walking down the halls of the school.

Despite the feelings of excitement felt by most, others are filled with dread. Prom dresses are often expensive, and with the strong desire to fit in with current trends, students’ hopes are crushed once they see the price tag on their dream dresses. Depending on the style and brand, prom dresses can be very expensive. Putting that cost on top of all the things that have to be paid for, prom can come with an exorbitant cost.

Donna Barrett, Habersham County Family Connection Executive Director, hopes to make sure the least amount of girls feel this strain as possible.

“What it represents for me is just the community coming together, to support a need for the community to come together,” Barrett said. “It has been amazing how when people have brought their dresses, they’re saying, ‘These were just hanging in my closet. I didn’t know what to do with them.’ And they’re so glad that they are going to help a student. I think that’s the neatest.”

Starting in 2018, the Prom Dress Closet, hosted in the Habersham Ninth Grade Academy, has changed the prom experience for students of Habersham Central. After going on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prom Dress Closet helped a record number of girls for prom of 2022, serving 33. Before this year’s spring break, Barrett has helped 20 girls find their prom dress.

All dresses have been donated by those in the community who no longer have any need for the dresses.

“The dresses initially came from when a boutique went out of business and they were donated,” Barrett said. “And as the years have gone by, the rest of the dresses have been all donations from the community.

“Since it’s a donation, we just take what is offered and I just appreciate it so much. Last year and this year, the larger size dresses, such as 14 through up to 22, we were very lacking in having a variety of dresses for those girls to choose from. So, we requested from the community when we advertised that the Prom Dress Closet was open, that we were looking for those size dresses. This year, I feel very comfortable with the selection that we have.”

Because Barrett wants the girls to have the best night prom possible, she makes sure the girls know that the dresses they take from the Closet are theirs to keep.

“Once I had one or two girls try to give them back,” Barrett said. “Pretty much when they come in, I let them know that the dresses are free. Just the look on their face is amazing. We have some absolutely beautiful dresses, and I let the girls know that if they need to hem the dress, maybe shorten the strap or if they need to do any type of alterations, that’s fine. That’s their dress. I want the dress to fit them to where they’re comfortable and for them to have a very good time.”

Even though prom is an event exclusive to juniors and seniors, other girls in the county have taken advantage of this amazing resource, as Barrett has had an eighth grader use one of her dresses for the grade’s dance. While it is called the Prom Dress Closet, Barrett wants people to know that those in the community of all ages can benefit from the Closet.

Prom is on April 22, and the Closet is going to be open after students return from spring break to ensure they have their dream dresses, shoes and jewelry.

If anyone feels compelled to donate to the Prom Dress Closet, Barrett wants people to know that the need goes beyond just a dress.

While the dress is the main need the Closet serves, Barrett will also accept shoes and jewelry.

“We will definitely take the shoes and jewelry, but the real need is the tickets. … You know, the tickets are $50, but if all they can do is $10, it’ll add up. The thing for the tickets would be to, in my opinion, contact the high school and talk to someone in the counseling department, and then they would get that all arranged because that would not be through me,” Barrett said. “I think one of the things is when the girls come and they get their dresses and they take them back, others are seeing them. And I tell them, ‘Please share with your friends.’ The dresses aren’t helping anybody if they’re just hanging up in the closet.”

Donations can be dropped off at the Habersham Ninth Grade Academy. For more information, contact dbarrett@habershamschools.com.