Grand Strand groups seek to make prom dreams come true

MYRTLE BEACH - When it came time some years ago for Racheal Reddick-Williams to go to prom, the eldest of four children to a single parent knew that it wasn't going to be easy for her and her family to afford it.

"My family stepped in and helped me to be able to have a prom," she said. She knows how it feels to benefit from others' good will, which is why she and her co-workers at the Quality Inn and Suites in Georgetown are working together to coordinate The Prom Closet this prom season.

"With the recession and the economic situation, I was just thinking that a lot of kids probably don't even have family that are able to do this," she said.

The Prom Closet takes in donated dresses and distributes them to needy students identified through Georgetown County high schools.  The students have to qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch programs, be in good academic standing, or have another reason why they can't afford formal wear for prom.  Reddick-Williams and her co-workers will even come and pick up any donated items you would like to give.

"Providing prom dresses for deserving kids...makes all of us feel good," she said.

Katie's Project in Myrtle Beach is in it's third busy prom season of giving donated dresses to deserving students.  The storefont, Katie's Closet in Market Common, is a great place for students who qualify to come and "shop" for what they want to wear, but organizers have also taken the dresses on the road to places like Loris, Georgetown, and even soon to Hannah-Pamplico High School in lower Florence County.

"Basically, we try to get everyone to come to us," said Sarah George with Katie's Project. "But, (we) realize that's not an option for everybody, so we travel and basically just load up the U-Haul with 5-600 dresses and hit the road," she said.

New this year, through it's annual "Wear It! Rock It! Give It!" promotion, J.C. Penney at Coastal Grand Mall is offering 20% off the purchase of a new dress if you donate a gently-used dress.  All dresses will be donated to Katie's Project.

"We like to do things for our community," said Coastal Grand Mall J.C. Penney Fine Jewelry Supervisor LaTanya Coote. "J.C. Penney is very much about doing things within our region, so we're really excited (the store) can give back locally," she said. 

The promotion at the store runs through April 3rd.

"It's kind of good to have bigger names like J.C. Penney behind us to get some more people involved," said George. "We're all doing the same thing. If anybody needs our help, we're here for them and vice-versa," she said.

For information about The Prom Closet in Georgetown, you can call Racheal Reddick-Williams at (843) 461-3044.

For information about Katie's Project, click here or call (843) 282-0454.