Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
Published: 4/13/2022 11:58:32 AM
Modified: 4/13/2022 11:57:22 AM
With ConVal’s prom a month away, high-schoolers are deciding who to go with, what to do before and after and what to wear.
But for some students, said school counselor Kim Humphrey, finding the right outfit might not be so simple.
“I just know that we have kids that can’t afford things,” she said.
To combat this, she has been offering a collection of free prom dresses to ConVal students for about 10 years. She said that she can’t remember exactly when it started, but does remember how important she found it to be.
“I know that there was not something existing before, and I just thought it would be a good idea,” she said. “I just didn’t think that it would be fair for kids not to be able to attend if they didn’t have a dress. I was thinking that was an important thing to offer.”
Humphrey’s idea was formalized in 2014, she said, when she brought it to other school administrators and turned it into an official program. Since then, it has only grown. Her collection is now more than 100 dresses. She receives donations from community members with increasing regularity, and during the pandemic, expanded the closet to include men’s shirts and ties.
“Everything I have is donated,” Humphrey said. “So far, in all my years, it’s worked out well.”
Humphrey added that she usually begins asking for more donations around March, but welcomes them at all times – all she asks is that donators bring the dresses to the school to drop them off.
Over the years, Humphrey said demand for the free prom dresses has not been enormously high, but that doesn’t mean she thinks she should stop.
“Our district has both low-income and high-income,” she said. “I know that the ones who take advantage – those are still kids who still wouldn’t have gone to prom if they didn't have a free dress.”
Throughout the year, the clothing is stored in a closet near her office, big enough to hold two racks of dresses. Right now, with prom in about a month, the clothes are out on display in extended learning counselor Kristin Knarr’s office for students to peruse.
There are a few different options for students, Humphrey said, including sizing and dress length. She also said that with changes the district has made to prom since the pandemic, it has become more equitable for students. Last year, prom was hosted outside on ConVal property, something that Humphrey said made the atmosphere more-accessible for some students.
“Some girls were in fancy prom dresses, some were just in sneakers, so really anyone was able to go because they made it more casual,” she said.
In prior years, she said going to a “fancy” location would sometimes make it difficult for people who did not have proper attire to attend.
“I think that’s one thing the pandemic did help with, making it more accessible for all the students,” Humphrey said. “This way, kids can still wear their fanciest, or they can dress down.”
This year’s prom will take place on May 14 at 7 p.m., with the theme of “masquerade ball.” Students wanting or needing a free prom dress or other prom attire can explore the options at any time they want, up until the day before prom if necessary, according to Humphrey.
Community members in terested in donating should reach out to Humphrey at khumphrey@conval.edu.
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