The Prom Project provides gently used prom dresses to teen girls in need.
In exchange, participants pledge 3 hours of community service to a local charity, promoting the concept of self-empowerment through public service and community involvement.
Part 1: Community Service Day
From 2010 to 2012, Athena's Warehouse volunteered annually with Project Open Hand, an organization that packages and delivers nutrition-conscious meals to elderly and chronically ill patients. On Community Service Day, girls work in the kitchen alongside adult volunteers, packing a portion of the 5,000 meals that get delivered each day across Atlanta. Collectively, Athena's Warehouse has donated nearly 400 hours to Project Open Hand.
Since 2013, Athena's Warehouse has helped tutor elementary students grades K–5 from Parklane Elementary School as part of the Hands On Atlanta Discovery Program, a volunteer-led tutoring and enrichment initiative.
“I believe we have a duty to serve and to give back. We have the power to bring about change, and therefore we should be thoughtful and committed citizens.”
Part 2: Dress Day
On Dress Day, Athena's Warehouse brings hundreds of dresses to the participating school, and each girl is paired with an adult volunteer for a personal, positive "shopping" experience. Volunteers help participants choose a prom dress, which is then reserved, dry-cleaned, and given to the girl to keep (or donate back if she chooses). To date, Athena's Warehouse has served nearly 300 girls from Title I schools across Atlanta, including Cross Keys High School, Grady High School, Maynard Jackson High School, and Clarkston High School.
