Long Island Volunteer Center sponsors 30th annual Prom Boutique

The Long Island Volunteer Center working in conjunction with the Nassau County Police Department and local Police fraternal organizations held a prom giveaway event Saturday April 22, at the NCPD Center for Training and Intelligence in Garden City, New York. The event, supported by Macy’s Roosevelt Field, included a DJ, photo booth, door prizes, minor alterations by volunteer seamstresses and goody bags from Haus Labs.

New and gently used prom dresses, suits, and accessories (including dressy shoes, evening bags, dress shirts, belts, ties, and costume jewelry) were distributed free of charge to over 343 registered students representing over 50 high schools and at-risk youth agencies. All referrals were confidentially made to support families across Long Island who could not easily absorb the expense of a new gown or suit for their prom, awards ceremony or graduation event. In addition, donations were made available to three area organizations holding their own like distribution events.

Over 150 volunteers assisted from the APWU POWER, Beta Psi Sigma Chapter of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Compass Real Estate, Freeport-Merrick Rotary, Freeport School District, Junior League of Long Island, Long Island Volunteer Center, Mineola-Garden City Rotary, Nassau County Office of Hispanic Affairs, Nassau County Girl Scouts, Nassau Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Sorority, Nassau County Police Department and Fraternal organizations, Rockville Centre High School, Sid Jacobson JCC, South Side High School, The Transition Network, United Pentecostal Church International, and Valley Stream Central High School. Cultural Competency & Sensitivity training was offered for volunteers by behavioral consultant and LIVC Board member, Joan Cohen. Other major project contributors included ACLD RewearAble, The Andy Foundation, Bank of America, Bridal Reflections, Connetquot School District, DJ Don Q Entertainment, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, Estelle’s Dressy Dresses, Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, Freeport-Merrick Rotary, LUV AJ Jewelry, Macy’s Roosevelt Field, Me Too Shoes, Mid-Island JCC, Nassau County Association of Woman Police, Nassau County Bar Association WE CARE, Nassau County Guardians Association, Nassau County Police Benevolent Association, Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County Police Department Pride, Nassau County Police Department Problem Oriented Policing Units, Nassau County Police Explorers, Nassau County Police Foundation, Nassau County Police Hispanic Society, Nassau County Shomrim, Northport LEADS 4H Club, Ray of Sunshine Entertainment, Shelter Rock Jewish Community Center, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Solful-Art Photobooth, Tikkun Alliance of the North Shore, Temple Judea, Weight Watchers, and Westy Self Storage.

Created in 1992 to improve the quality of life for all Long Islanders, the Long Island Volunteer Center is a nonprofit organization that encourages people to engage in service to their communities and mobilizes volunteers and donations to support community service initiatives. Prom Boutique (a former activity of the Junior League of Long Island which continues to be actively involved) was added 24 years ago to the array of Long Island Volunteer Center community service projects. Acting Executive Director Diana O’Neill said “The program continues to evolve and grow from its humble beginnings in a Roosevelt parish school gym with the mission remaining intact—to acknowledge the hard work of a high school student who against adverse circumstances, stayed in school, will graduate with their class, and now can celebrate that singular accomplishment—they’ve earned this! Our volunteers get swept up in that joy and can say with enthusiasm to these young leaders of tomorrow, “well done, congratulations!”.”

For more information, contact the Long Island Volunteer Center at (516) 564-5482, email prom@longislandvolunteercenter.org or access www.longislandvolunteercenter.org. ###