by James Coulter
Are you a local high school student or the parent or guardian of one? Are you looking for the most fabulous dress or stylish suit for prom?
What if you could get a great prom outfit for absolutely free? You can! And here’s how:
Project Prom is an annual program that provides free dresses and suits for prom to local high school students. All they have to do is go to the Project Prom store at Lakeland Square Mall, present their student ID, and sign a waiver promising they will avoid drugs and alcohol on prom night.
For the past ten years, Project Prom has been hosted by InnerAct Alliance, a non-profit organization which, according to its website, is dedicated to helping, “reduce the abuse and underage use of harmful substances along with involvement in other risky behaviors.”
Kelsi Davis, the Youth Outreach Intern for InnerAct Alliance, has been working at the organization for the past three years through UthMpact, the youth coalition created under InnerAct Alliance, which she also serves as its co-president.
“While in high school, I got to experience firsthand the impact of Project Prom not only through volunteering but also through finding dresses and formal wear of my own,” she said. “I have gotten to see hundreds of Polk County students come through our doors and find their dream outfits without the financial burden. Project Prom is an amazing program for all Polk County high schoolers and I get to see our success grow bigger every year.”
The Project Prom store is set up inside Lakeland Square Mall (next to Dillard’s), located at 3800 US Hwy 98 N, Lakeland, FL 33809. The store will be open from 11 AM – 4 PM on Sat. Mar. 2, Mar. 16, Mar. 30, and Apr. 6. Learn more at: projectprompolk.com
Kelsi Davis recently joined us on the Chattin on the Ridge podcast to discuss Project Prom and her experience with it. Listen to our new podcast episode on Acast: https://shows.acast.com/chattin-on-the-ridge/episodes/ep-25-project-prom-wkelsi-davis
