Make impact with prom donation

Prom night.
It’s an event that’s a subject for most high school movies. There’s even one called Prom Night, although the proms in the movies don’t resemble anything I experienced in high school.
Then again, until I moved to Portland, I had never seen anything like the Jay County High School prom either.
I remember being asked during my first few weeks on the job if I was “going to prom.” I had no idea what people were talking about.
It was at Jay County’s tennis match on the day of prom in 2001, after being asked the question again by then-junior Lauren McKee, that I finally requested more information. Lauren explained the whole concept of promenade to me, and later that evening I attended.
I was stunned by the magnitude of the event.
It seemed like the whole community was packed into the JCHS gym to watch the juniors and seniors parade in one-by-one, see the king and queen crowned and then take pictures. It was a social event for family and friends as much as the students.
When I went to prom, a group of us met at a friend’s house and some of our parents took photos. This, clearly, was different.
In the last 12 years I’ve attended my fair share of promenades at both Jay County and Fort Recovery, charged with getting the photo of the prom royalty. The number of people attending the free events always amazed me, and I kept thinking to myself, and out loud to others on occasion, that it was a missed opportunity. Last year, we did something about it.
With the help of JCHS students and junior class sponsor Christie Sommers, we created Promen-Aid. The goal was to make prom not only a celebration and dance for the high school juniors and seniors, but also a charity event that would help our neighbors in need.
And you made it a success.
Jack and Connie Ronald, the now-departed Steve Garbacz and I were blown away by the response as we staffed the event last year. You donated more than 550 food items and $525 to Community and Family Services and Helping Hand Food Bank.
We hope to surpass those numbers Saturday.
Staff members from The Commercial Review will once again be at the prom to collect your donations. Items of special need for the food bank include boxed cereal, canned fruits and vegetables and peanut butter.
So when you come to prom Saturday, bring a can, a box, a dollar. Your small donation can make a big impact.
We look forward to seeing you there.[[In-content Ad]]