Excitement brewed on campus, as the girls anticipated Missouri Girls Town’s 2018 Prom. A great deal of preparation went into the event, from planning the theme and decorations, to prom dress shopping, to creating the invitations. The tropical-themed event featured photo props, a live DJ, a Prom Queen coronation, and a tiki-bar which served punch, candy, and custom-made cookies. The girls were escorted by a local chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, and were treated to an all-you-can-eat pizza and dessert bar at lunch. Leading up to the event, the girls gathered in the morning for breakfast, before being treated to a spa-like experience to get dressed and ready for Prom. Volunteers from the Little Sisters of the Gold Rose, a local service sorority based out of the University of Missouri, Columbia, helped with hair and makeup, as well as local beauticians who donated their time. Teams of volunteers made up of MGT staff and administration, as well as community members served on committees to ensure that the event was a success. Decorations were donated by the New Bloomfield High School Student Council, who agreed to help set up on the day of the event.
A recent passive recreation session prior to the event included designing prom dresses of all shapes, colors, and sizes representing the girls’ individuality. Haley Arndt, the Creative Marketing Director and artist at local business, 1canoe2, stopped by campus to help the girls make their dream dresses a reality during the dress design activity. Prom is an annual tradition at MGT, and events like this play a vital role in creating an environment for the girls which is not only therapeutic, but also fosters the fun of being young. Prom proved to be a huge success, with one client stating: “I was so excited when I found out that MGT had a Prom, I thought I would have to miss out on events like that, so I’m just excited to be going”. A shopping trip at Woods Chapel Church’s 2018 prom boutique allowed for a fun outing in which the girls were able to pick out their favorite dress to wear at the event.
A large thank you goes out to all of the businesses, volunteers, and organizations who helped ensure that this event was a success, giving the girls an opportunity to remember that despite anything they have been through, they can still let loose, have fun, and be a kid.
