Students can step into the Project Prom/Project Homecoming store in Lakeland Square Mall and explore the array of colorful gowns, dapper suits, and sparkly accessories.
Project Homecoming, led by UthMpact teen leaders, offers free formalwear to all Polk County high schoolers, ensuring milestone moments like homecoming and prom remain within reach for families feeling the squeeze of rising costs.
Angie Ellison, executive director of InnerAct Alliance, which oversees UthMpact, described how the store has grown from a 20-by-20 foot pop-up boutique to a larger location at Lakeland Square mall with over 1,000 outfits.
Why it matters: Homecoming isn’t cheap
With costs for formalwear, shoes, and tickets, the strain on ALICE families — those that are above the poverty line, employed but struggle with the basics — cuts even deeper…