Exclusive Outreach Prom-A-Thon

Last Sunday was the second year in a row that Soles4Souls has been involved in the Exclusive Outreach Prom-A-Thon here in Nashville.  This year, we donated beautiful special occasion shoes from Ellie Shoes and MEGA Shoes, and prom dresses were provided to us from NewlyMaid and Unique Vintage.  Nearly 100 girls from several Metro Nashville schools, including Hunters Lane and Pearl Cohn High School, were among the recipients.  The girls were chosen by their guidance counselors, and are required to complete community service for the donation given to them after their prom.

One of the sweetest times of the day was watching the girls look in the mirror in their new dress and shoes.  One of the first girls kept peeking down at her new silver sandals, and saying over and over "I just love my shoes!”.

Their facial expressions would change as they viewed themselves in the mirror, and it was just fun to “ooh” and “aah” over them in their Cinderella gowns, and watch the smiles grow on their faces.  Another excited young girl kept giggling over and over while looking in the mirror in her new dress.

One young woman, a senior in high school, came up to me before she left and said “Thank you so much, I really appreciate everything you have done today for me”.  It was so genuine, and very touching.

Without this event and help from partners like Soles4Souls and Clothes4Souls, there really is no opportunity for these girls to have prom attire. 

These girls left with hope in their arms.  Hope in the form of silver and gold sparkly sandals, and frothy prom gowns with lots of tulle and beading.  I believe that our gift of Hope will transcend through the simple donation of a dress and a pair of shoes, and will become a defining moment for many of those young ladies in the years to come.