Centre News

Since the prom dress drive began, the members of Alpha Delta
Pi have collected more than 40 dresses from Centre community
members.

“We'd like to make this much like a shopping experience for the
girls,” says Katie Moore ’10, who is organizing the drive.

Prom night is an occasion many high school students look forward to more than most others. For some high school girls, however, the costs of attending prom prevent them from going. Knowing this, the members of Centre College’s Alpha Delta Pi sorority have organized a “dress drive” in hopes of sending many of Danville’s girls to prom.

“A member of our sorority, Katie Hill ’10, approached me and suggested that we do a dress drive,” says Katie Moore ’10 of Bardstown, Ky., who is helping organize the effort. “Not sure of the need, I sent letters to Danville and Boyle County High Schools inquiring as to the need. After hearing back from them, it became evident that there was a huge need in the community for a program like this. I proposed it to the chapter, and we’ve been working on the drive from that moment on.”

The dresses will be given to girls in the town’s high schools who could not otherwise afford to attend prom. And on prom day, several members of Alpha Delta Pi will be doing make-up for high schoolers attending the night’s event.

“Our goal this first year is to send 10 girls to prom, five from each high school,” Moore says. “The only stipulation is they must be unable to afford the dresses and all the other prom stuff, such as shoes, make-up, and other expenses. We’ve worked closely with the family resource centers of the schools. They know the girls in need, and we’re hoping to help make prom affordable and special for them.”

Next year, the Centre students hope to expand the effort, making dresses available for high school girls in the surrounding counties as well as in Danville.

Since the drive began, the members of Alpha Delta Pi have collected 40 prom dresses from Centre community members.

“We’re still hoping for more,” Moore says, “because we'd like to make this much like a shopping experience for the girls. We don't want to offer them only one dress in their size.”

Lending a hand to the local community has been rewarding for not only Moore but all the members of her sorority.

“A big part of our national organization is giving back to the community,” she says. “We don’t want to isolate ourselves; we have 90 women able to do service and help out. I’ve learned that running an effort like this takes a group, and it’s important to capitalize on the strengths of everyone.” For more information about the prom dress drive or to donate a dress, email katie.moore@centre.edu.