Prom is often considered one of the highlights of the American high school experience, but for many students, the cost of promwear can make participation more challenging. At Concord-Carlisle High School, members of the Thinker’s Agenda Club are working to ensure that financial barriers don’t prevent anyone from enjoying this special night.
Thinker’s Agenda Club is a student organization at CCHS focused on supporting local nonprofit organizations and community service initiatives. Last year, the club launched Project Prom, an initiative dedicated to collecting new and gently used prom dresses and formalwear from the CCHS community. In its first year, the club collaborated with Reading Memorial High School and donated over 130 items, including 70 dresses ranging in size from 0 to 18. Now in its second year, the club hopes to continue that spirit of generosity and help even more students find something special to wear to prom. The goal is to give beautiful dresses a second life while helping other students feel confident and included.
Thinker’s Agenda Club will be holding a collecting drive for formalwear from students, families, and community members. Once the collection is complete, the club will create a mini shop for students of CCHS to select items from as needed. Then, club members will take a field trip on April 3 to donate these items to Anton’s Cleaners’ Belle of the Ball as well as Peabody Veterans Memorial High School. Anton’s Cleaners’ Belle of the Ball is a program that distributes free prom attire in Boston to those in need. Items brought to Peabody Veterans Memorial High School will be displayed in their “Bull Market,” a private shop-like space where students can browse and select items they need at no charge to them.
By donating items, the CCHS community can help ensure that every student, regardless of financial circumstances, has the chance to experience the magic of prom. A dress that has been worn once and has no plan to be worn again can truly make someone else’s prom dream possible if given the opportunity.
If you have any gently used prom dresses or formalwear that you no longer need, please consider donating them from March 26-27 to the club’s collection box in the Learning Commons. With your help, Project Prom can continue to grow and make prom accessible to more students in our community.
