Family Crisis Center Director Kristy Lawson, left, and Remco Business Center administrative assistant Shay Love are collecting dresses for Pennies for Prom. They are assisted by Emilia Day, 2.Prom mania
To learn more about getting tickets to the Adult Prom or donating to Pennies for Prom, call 706-965-2378.
With businesses and organizations offering counseling, accounting, religious, design, social services, dining and more, it may seem surprising that Remco Business Center has been overtaken with prom mania. Especially considering that all area schools’ proms are April 23.
But around this time of year, for the past three years at least, the fashion show of stylish dresses associated with that iconic high school event has passed through the realty management center’s doors, growing in number.
Remco Business Center hosts an annual Pennies for Prom drive to collect donated dresses and tuxedos to help all students, even those who may not be able to afford a new dress – which averages $250 – attend.
So far, more than 125 dresses in every size have been collected this year.
“This is our third year. The first year, we collected 25 to 30 dresses,” said Remco Business Center administrative assistant Shay Love. “I like for girls to pick out what they like. Southern Charm bends over backwards to go in on tuxedo rentals.”
Perhaps catching a bit of the bug herself, Love is also planning the first “Remember When” Adult Prom. Some of the dresses left over from Pennies for Prom will go to Adult Prom attendees in need, she said.
Tickets will be sold in advance for $50 each and only 200 tickets will be sold, said Love. The event is May 7 at 7 p.m. at the Ringgold Depot.
All proceeds from the Adult Prom will benefit local missions: Christ Chapel Share and Care Mission, the Family Crisis Center, Children’s Advocacy Center, Crossroads Unity Family Park and Catoosa County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association. A special donation will also go to Johnny Jennings for his charity, the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home.
“I wanted to do the Adult Prom years ago when I was on the board of another nonprofit,” Love said. “A lot of people our age did not go to prom with their spouse. The music will be from 1940 to current. We hope people of all ages will come. Mr. and Mrs. Jennings that are 85 years old will be there to accept the money in time for Mother’s Day weekend for the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home.”
The Adult Prom will crown a king and queen, host dancing, offer finger foods from Zaxby’s and a cash bar from Farm to Fork. A silent auction will include Disney World tickets, gift certificates from Jason’s Deli, ShopRite and Lisa’s Gold and Diamonds, and more.
“I hope to raise $20,000 to $25,000,” said Love. “I would love to hand the five nonprofits $5,000 each. If we sell lots of tickets and do well with the silent auction it will help.”
Selling the 200 tickets alone would mean $2,000 per nonprofit, she said.
In addition to dusting off her Scarlett O’Hara-style hoop dress, Love is preparing by inviting people to Remco Shops’ Suite 106 to learn how to dance from instructor Byl Butler. Every Wednesday from 7-8:30 p.m., he teaches attendees the hand jive, “Thriller” dance, the boogie-woogie, hustle and waltz.
“I want people to be excited about the Adult Prom and to know they are doing something good for the community,” Love said. “I think ours will be fun. The Depot will be decorated from 1940s to current.”