The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District’s event offered free dresses and suits, easing the financial burden for students preparing for prom.

On Saturday, the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District hosted its second annual Upcycled Prom Closet event at the Oldemeyer Center in Seaside, California. The initiative aimed to provide students with free prom dresses, suits, and accessories, alleviating the financial burden many face when preparing for prom night. Prom is often an expensive affair, with prices for dresses reaching hundreds of dollars. Kayleigh Capistrano, a senior at Marina High School, noted, “They can get up to like hundreds of dollars, which is where the ‘prettier dresses are.’ For a lot of girls, it’s been hard to find a dress they really love that isn’t super expensive, especially for myself.”

The Upcycled Prom Closet event was open to students from Marina, Monterey, Seaside, and Central Coast high schools. Community donations played a significant role in making the event possible, ensuring that all items offered were free of charge. Maiaika Velazquez, a board member for the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, shared her personal experience, stating, “When I was going to Seaside High here in the 90s, the only reason I got to go to prom was because my date actually paid. And then my mother is a seamstress, so she actually made my dresses. Had she not done that, I wouldn’t have been able to go to prom. My older brother didn’t get to go to prom at all.”

The atmosphere at the event was festive, featuring music, food, and a photo booth, which helped build excitement among attendees for the upcoming prom season. Capistrano also highlighted the supportive environment created by the event, saying, “I’m really happy. You know, I don’t have to be a burden on my family. They can be here and support me and stuff.”

The overarching goal of the Upcycled Prom Closet is to make the prom experience accessible to every student, regardless of their financial situation. Capistrano shared her enthusiasm about the opportunity to explore different styles, stating, “You get to see what colors you like, what colors you don’t like and the style you want. I think it’s really nice that they put this on for us, and everything’s free. They have prizes, which is really cool.” This community effort not only helps reduce waste by promoting the use of upcycled clothing but also instills valuable lessons about saving money and finding value in experiences. As Velazquez noted, “We just want everyone to feel good and to save some money.”

Source: Noah Wire Services