DETROIT – Prom season is around the corner.
It’s a rite of passage for teenagers, but it can also be incredibly expensive.
Inside the Boys and Girls Club on Detroit’s west side, girls know when they’ve found the right dress.
While the atmosphere feels like a boutique, teens can find shoes, accessories, and dresses without paying a dime.
Ahauna Reed, a senior student, is on the hunt for the perfect dress.
“I love the sparkle for this one, but I don’t like the shape,” she says, expressing her desire for a specific look. The student prefers a black dress with some shimmer in the shape of a fit and flare look.
Her father beams with pride, knowing he can help turn her dream into reality.
“The good thing about here is we actually have people that are helping her find what she wanted,” says Peter Reed, Ahauna’s father.
This experience is made possible thanks to Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell.
Initially, the prom dress giveaway called “Belle of the Ball” started during the Great Recession. The county leader thought the event would only last a couple of years.
“Prom has gotten so expensive -- hair, nails, shoes, the car, the dress. I wanted to alleviate some of the costs for families,” she explains.
Area businesses step up to offer a tailored experience, providing gently used dresses -- many still have tags on them. Young ladies from around Metro Detroit come to snag the right look on Saturday.
“I guess I like the patterns of this dress,” Ahauna Reed says, continuing her search. Even though she is becoming independent, she still looks to her dad for guidance. “I do want to try on more just in case,” she says.
Her father approves of the look.
The tender moment ends with a quick high-five before Peter Reed tells his daughter how much he loves her.
