APEX, N.C. — Prom season is officially here, an event considered to be a fun and exciting rite of passage for many young teenagers.
But because of rising costs, several families simply can’t afford the hundreds if not thousands of dollars it can now cost to attend the school function when all is said and done.
So now, a group of hardworking, everyday heroes have created a temporary boutique, where the 150 volunteers are stepping in to help out in a big way.
For one weekend only, the Prom Shoppe comes to life inside Apex United Methodist Church’s gymnasium. It’s a handmade store meant to feel like an upscale boutique.
This year — their 16th — was no different.
Even before the doors opened on the first day, the line was out the door and all the way to the road. Teens who came shopped for not only a dress but also all the essentials needed for the big day.
Hundreds of students and their family members stood patiently, waiting to start their shopping spree for all the prom essentials.
Some dresses inside may retail for more than $1500, but these volunteers aren’t charging a thing.
“It’s weird finding a dress like this that you’d think would be in like a high top salon and that it’s here and I can get the dress without thinking that I would ever get a dress like this,” Willow Springs High School senior Grace Tew said while trying on her dream dress.
Brandy Sadler started as a volunteer and now leads the charge, helping to organize the event that takes all year to plan.
“So dress, shoes, jewelry, all kinds of jewelry, and then makeup, all kinds of makeup, they get to choose one of everything." "This is a safe space, a welcoming space; love, support, encouragement, because we don’t know what they’re dealing with at home,” Sadler said.
Organizers didn’t want the Prom Shoppe to feel like a giveaway. That’s why they treat all the shoppers like they’re in a high end boutique.
And based on the smiles throughout the room, organizers say the event was once again a success. Each shopper had their own volunteer assistants, and in the end, weren’t charged for what they chose.
It was a life-changing experience for some who say they’ve never felt so pretty.
“It’s a wonderful thing to enable all of these girls to come out here and get everything that they need. And it makes them feel special. They already are, but this is just a little extra something,” Candice Braxton said.
Braxton lost her husband several years back and said it’s been tough on her family. But, she added, she and her daughter, Ryann Ashleigh, have learned to lean on the community for extra love and support.
“Years from now I’m going to tell my child, my children about this experience, of how I got the dress of my dreams for free, at a charity for other girls like me, who can’t go and spend $2,000 on a prom dress,” Ryann Ashleigh Braxton added.
It’s a memory and a newfound sense of confidence that Brandy and her volunteers said they hope to last a lifetime.
“The world is a hard place right now, and we want these girls to know that there are people who are out there, people who will help them. They’re not alone,” Sadler added.
“Their time, energy and effort, everything they put into this, really means a lot because I honestly feel so happy,” added junior Harshitha Gopinath between smiles, while wearing the red dress she chose.
Since the start of COVID-19, volunteers with The Prom Shoppe say they’ve only seen the need grow.
During the two-day event this year, they gave away hundreds of prom dresses and essentials to students who drove in from across the state. The event is entirely volunteer based, with all items donated from individuals and businesses throughout North Carolina.
If you’d like to learn how to get involved, head to the Prom Shoppe’s website for Facebook page.