HarrimanHigh School’s Prom Closet
Prom Closet
Contact: Theresa McKenrick, HarrimanHigh School.
Phone: 865-882-1821
E-mail: (it does have a “d” in her name on the address – they did it incorrectly when they put it in)
There are so many needs in our rural areas. Most people would be surprised what these children and adults lack in their daily lives.
I have taught at HarrimanHigh School for the past 20 years (this is actually the beginning of my 30th year!) and have seen firsthand the daily needs of children.
Our area has lost its plants (hosiery, clothing, paper-mill etc.) as have many other communities and we have many, many kids who get their only hot meals at school. Sometimes it may be the only “meals” they have.
Four years ago, we had a need for a prom dress for a young lady in special education who claimed she was too “poor and ugly” to attend the prom—it became our mission that she attend. During this process, we found several other girls who wanted to attend, but could not afford it. This was the beginning of our Prom Closet. We currently have a Prom Closet that contains over 60 formals in various sizes that have been donated along with shoes, jewelry and purses. The Appalachian Life Quality Initiative of Tennessee (ALQI) has generously donated 26 cases of men’s formal wear; tuxedos, shirts, ties, vests, shoes, etc.!! These items are all brand new and will be used for all five ofRoaneCounty’s high schools.
What began as an outreach program for special needs students ironically became an inclusion program for regular education students!! We “modified” our policies to allow non-disabled students the benefit of shopping at the Prom Closet. These items are checked out, like library books, and are returned after the prom. We clean and restock the closet for the next prom. Mothers that have never had the opportunity to shop for a special dress with theirdaughtersare welcome to come and share the experience. This allows parents to view the school in a different light; their children are on a level planning field with all who are planning for the prom; not one mention of “disability” or “modifications,” other than a hemline! It is a joy to share this experience with them.
That first year, we also found that many special needs students might like to go but had no transportation. A used car dealer in town stepped up and loaned us two 15 passenger vans – all we had to pay for was the gas. Word got out and the teachers at HHS took up donations among themselves, not only for gas, but to have enough money to take this group out to eat in a nice restaurant after the prom! We even have a deal with our contracted photographer for individual pictures and we always have a group picture taken as well.
This is now an annual tradition. There is a retired principal who drops by my classroom in March each year to give me a check for the kids, and the teachers give every year to make the students’ dreams a reality. Our closet has grown and the number of kids we transport and feed grows with each passing year. We have a blast, but also turn the event into a life-skills learning session by pre-printing menus before the prom so the kids can learn how to order, as many have never been to a “sit down” restaurant; learn proper table manners and develop habits of good hygiene. These are memories and skills that last a lifetime. Parents bring their kids all dressed up (we also have people who help with make-up and hair, which has included our cafeteria workers!) to the high school parking lot to meet the vans and we have a photo-shoot-including the parents. The parents of special needs students want this “typical high school experience” for their kids,just as any parent would, but often have little means or opportunity to provide it. If students are allowed the opportunity to make “once in a life-time memories,” school becomes more than just an academic struggle.
Prom Closet – RoaneCountyPage 1