ENGLEWOOD —The 10th annual Prom With a Purpose event is quickly approaching and this year the event's sponsor, the Englewood Police District's Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy, is teaming up with several community organizations to help make it a success.
The purpose of the event is to provide needy high school junior and seniors with new or gently used suits and dresses for prom and graduation. A limited supply of accessories, such as shoes and purses, will also be available, according to CAPS officer Daliah Goree.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 12 at the Chicago Embassy Church, 5848 S. Princeton Ave. Only students with a school ID will be given clothes and students must try on clothes while there. Free on-site alterations will also be available. Each student will receive one suit or one dress on a first-come, first-served basis.
"While our focus is on seniors going to prom and graduating we realize that juniors also go to prom with seniors so we include them as well," Goree said.
The officer noted that "parents are struggling to pay everyday bills and do not always have extra money for their children to participate in school activities and events like prom."
As for Goree's participation in the project, she said, "Working with our youths in the community is what I enjoy doing."
She added that 115 students received clothes from the event last year thanks to generous donations from across the state.
"We had a company in Morton Grove donate 24 prom dresses last year," Goree said.
Local nonprofit organizations supporting the event include Voices of West Englewood, Residents Association of Greater Englewood, Growing Home Inc., and Imagine Englewood If.
To donate clothes call Goree or CAPS officer Claudette Knight weekdays at 312-747-6722.
To help boost donations Sonya Harper, a community organizer and Englewood resident, will be collecting donated clothes from 4-7 p.m. Saturday in the Community room at the district, 1438 W. 63rd St. during her second annual Curl Clinic seminar.
"I wanted to help CAPS with collecting clothes and thought this would be a great way to get some donated items," said Harper, 32.
