By Gina Christian • Posted April 6, 2018

Spring flowers are starting to open — along with wallets, as parents and teens start shopping for their prom.

Last year, the average teen spent more than $600 on tickets, outfits and transportation to the annual dance, an American tradition since the 1940s.

Through its second annual Prom Gear Exchange, Catholic Community Services (CCS) is helping to reduce the price tag for prom, which many families struggle to afford.

(Watch a video of the exchange:)

An agency within the archdiocese’s Catholic Social Services division, CCS is collecting gently used prom attire and accessories for distribution on Saturday, April 21 at George Washington High School in Northeast Philadelphia from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event is free and open to all teens in greater Northeast Philadelphia, the area served by CCS. Attendees are encouraged to register with CCS in advance.

Ginger Smith, the community liaison for CSS, came up with the idea for the exchange, which was first launched in 2017.

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“Prom is an exciting time in young people’s lives, and to not be able to participate because of finances or being in need really shouldn’t be the case,” she said. “So we’re just trying to eliminate that barrier for young people so they can enjoy this fun time in their lives.”

Last year’s exchange, which was held at St. Martin of Tours Parish, assisted more than 25 teens in getting to the dance in style – including one couple who never dreamed they could attend.

“They happened to be walking by, with no intention of going to prom since it was too expensive,” Smith said. “They ended up finding color-coordinated outfits that fit perfectly, and the girl’s mother actually cried because she never thought she’d get to send her daughter to prom.”

Smith hopes to help at least 100 youth this year with an expanded program that will include a DJ, personal shoppers, accessories and a resource table.

Precious Brown, a student intern at CCS, will manage the resource table, providing information on scholarships, driver’s education courses and other opportunities of interest to teens.

Now in her senior year at Imhotep Institute Charter High School, Brown is researching youth needs and concerns through her work at CCS.

“I selected CCS for my internship because I myself was a foster child,” she said. “And so it was like a gateway to finding out more of the background in which I grew up. This is personal, and touching.”

Brown plans to choose a dress from the exchange, which is also receiving support from a number of local businesses and area schools.

Students at John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School have partnered with CSS for this year’s event, collecting dresses and shoes to expand the wardrobe selection.

“Prom is a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” said Ariana Rivera, an eleventh-grader. “When you go, you make a lot of memories, and it’s important to have the right dress and shoes.”

Brooke Golden, a senior, noted that the Prom Gear Exchange makes both financial and ethical sense.

“Your parents spend a lot of money on a dress, so you should be able to donate it to someone if their parents don’t have the money, or they don’t have a job,” she said. “Prom is a night when you’re with your friends, you look pretty, and you feel like a princess. Everyone should be able to go.”

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To learn more about the Prom Gear Exchange or to arrange a drop off, contact Ginger Smith at 215-221-2010 or gismith@chs-adphila.org.