South Brunswick High holds annual Prom Closet event with new safety precautions

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The South Brunswick High School Prom Closet returned for 2021 on Wednesday after being forced to cancel the event in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Choir Director Lee Thomas and several volunteers were ready to help juniors and seniors get ready for their big night.

Students could choose from donated dresses, suits, shoes, purses, and jewelry. Some of the items are brand new, still with the tags.

The idea behind the yearly event is to make sure all students can enjoy prom.

“A lot of dresses are very overpriced and not everyone can afford a new fancy dress,” said student volunteer Stevie Varley. “We have a ton of ones here that people have donated from past years.”

There were some added safety measures to this year’s Prom Closet due to the pandemic.

“If they try it on and it doesn’t fit or they don’t like it, we take it outside and we spray it down with some sanitizing stuff,” Varley said.

Seamstresses were also on hand to make alterations, making sure everyone had a perfect fit.

Volunteers Varley and Al Wheeler say it’s nice to feel a sense of normalcy after missing their own 8th grade formal last year due to COVID-19.

‘For me personally it was a big bummer to miss it, and so I’m just really glad that things are sort of returning back to normal and that we can help some other people have a fun time at their special dances,” Varley said.

“It’s really a lot of fun knowing that we can give them something and know that they’ll have a fun time at prom or formal,” Wheeler said.

Students can keep their Prom Closet items after their special night or return them to South Brunswick High School for others to use in the future.