Volunteers to help prep base youth for prom

  • Published
  • By Tim Flack
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Local volunteers are hoping to help take a bit of the financial pain out of this year's high school prom.

Heather Holmes - a youth volunteer, mother and Air Force spouse - worked with Jake Lindquist - the teen coordinator at the base youth center - to create what they're calling Prom Prep on March 23 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Liberty Square.

The event will allow girls to exchange prom dresses and to learn how to do their own hair, make-up and nails - often the priciest part of getting ready for the big dance. It's geared toward girls who are 13 to 18 years old, Holmes explained.

The original plan was simply to do a dress exchange: a chance for the girls to trade their dresses so they would have something "new" to wear without busting their parents' bank accounts.

With three teen daughters of her own, Holmes said she knows just how expensive that can be.

She said some girls have dresses in their closets that they don't want to wear again. For other families, a new dress that can range $100 and up - she's seen prom dresses go for $300 or more - might not be in the budget.

"We wanted to make it a fun event that doesn't hurt the pocket book so much," Holmes said. But when they started planning the event, they decided they could get more interest by offering the other hands-on help.

She currently has 12 volunteers who will be giving the girls pointers on things like custom nail design and creating their own fancy braids.

She said they'll also be able to offer door prizes - including gift certificates for flowers, dinners at restaurants and to a few different department stores - thanks to generous donations from the Chiefs Group, the Top 3, the Airman's Advisory Council and the on-base flower shop.

Holmes asks that each girl who attends either bring a dress to donate, or $10 worth of non-perishable food items that can be donated in Grand Forks city.

She explained that more volunteers are welcome and anyone who wants to donate a dress or other accessories can contact her via her email at holmesbunchnd@live.com or call the youth center at 747-3151.

"The kids are very excited, and the parents are very excited," Holmes said.