It’s only January, but Prom will be here before we know it. Luckily, ESL coordinator Debra Billmann and paraprofessional Dana Stem are providing free prom attire for those who need it.

If you’re interested in going to prom, which will be held on May 2 at SteelStacks, but don’t have anything to wear, or if you can’t find anything affordable, the Prom Shop is the perfect opportunity to find something.

“Students can come get anything related to prom,” Billmann said. “We have dresses, suits, ties, shoes, jewelry and more.”

All of the clothes come from donations. Many have only been worn once, and some not at all. They selections are also versatile, with many different styles and ranging in size from 0-18.

From Jan. 21 to 31, the Prom Shop is open during unit lunch in D101A. You can also book a private appointment if you’d like to shop any day afterward by emailing Billmann.

Billmann volunteers her time to help make Prom an enjoyable experience for all. She understands that not every student can afford brand new, expensive outfits and thinks that shouldn’t stop anyone from feeling and looking their best on the dance floor.

“Everything [in stores] is really expensive,” Billmann said. “Spending 500 dollars or more on a dress seems very crazy to me. There are so many dresses out there that are very unique that you can’t find in the store anymore. It’s [the Prom Shop] also more environmentally friendly.”

In the future, Billmann plans to form an “upcycling” club. This club would partner with the Prom Shop and help to fix up dresses and skirts that have stains, tears or are out of style.

“Learning how to upcycle is a useful skill that many students could benefit from and would be interested in,” Billmann said.