Nassau County Office of Youth Services hosts Prom Dress and Suit Giveaway

The Nassau County Office of Youth Services organized a remarkable event on May 6 at the Freeport Recreation Center, providing prom dresses and suits to local students.

The initiative, titled “Prom Dress and Suit Giveaway,” aimed to ensure that all students in Nassau County had access to appropriate attire for their prom night.

The event marked the first year that Nassau County hosted such a prom dress giveaway, which also included a food distribution for the attendees. The Nassau County Office of Youth Services collaborated with various stores throughout the county, receiving generous donations of over 1000 dresses. 

The event was open to all Nassau County students, not limited to Freeport Public School attendees. Each student had the opportunity to select two dresses or a suit, ensuring they had suitable attire for their prom night. Additionally, the young women were provided with accessories such as jewelry to complement their chosen outfits.

The event aimed to give back to the community and provide support to students who may face financial constraints in affording prom attire. Recognizing the dedication and hard work of these students throughout their academic journey, the Nassau County Office of Youth Services wanted to ensure that the cost of attending prom would not be a hindrance.

“We wanted to give back to the kids in the community,” Executive Director of the Nassau County Office of Youth Services, Ladonna Taylor said. “Right now, we know things are hard for everybody with inflation. So, we wanted to give as much as we could to Nassau County kids and wanted to be sure that everybody that wanted to go to prom, had the means to do it.”

The event received tremendous support from various organizations and individuals within the community. Members of a local group called Becky’s Closet, comprising high school girls from local school systems, independently collected over 150 dresses through their efforts. Some of these young volunteers also dedicated their time to assist at the event, along with the generous participation of staff from Blood Babies Learning Academy, a daycare center in Freeport.

The presence of a skilled seamstress on-site further enhanced the event, as she  donated her time to provide alterations and fittings for the students. 

The Nassau County Office of Youth Services expresses gratitude to Executive Leader Bruce Blakeman for enabling events like this to take place. 

“Thanks to our executive leader Bruce Blakeman, we are able to do events like this,” Taylor said. “So, we always want to give him credit for allowing us to be able to do these events.”