ABOVE: This Woman’s Work Team
This past Sunday, March 18th, Carla’s Closet, a program of This Woman’s Work, hosted a Prom Dress Drive at One Delta Plaza in southeast Houston. Over 800 dresses, shoes, handbags, gift cards, and accessories were donated to the cause.
“Just a year ago, we held our first prom dress drive with what we thought was a lofty goal of 100 dresses, but ended up with just over 300,” said founder Carla Lane, who serves as President and CEO of Lane Staffing, the largest minority woman-owned employment solution in the Southwest. “Now, this year, we are closer to 850 and still climbing. After Hurricane Harvey, these students will need more support than ever before. For me to say thank you seems too small.”
This Woman’s Work once again partnered with HISD Trustee Wanda Adams (District IX), who was the catalyst for the Drive in 2017 and the HISD Homeless Education Project Prom Program, to assist these students in need.
“Project Prom is an annual initiative created to meet the needs of homeless students during the prom season,” says Adams. “They work in collaboration with various agencies to provide free prom dresses, tuxedo and shoe rentals, and accessories to hundreds of homeless and at-risk high school seniors planning to attend their prom.”
More than 6,000 homeless students attend Houston Independent School District (HISD) schools. Like their peers, they want to hang out with friends, participate in extracurricular activities, and attend school functions such as prom. Unfortunately, many of these students can’t attend prom because they lack the financial resources to purchase a dress and shoes.
This Woman’s Work is an IRS approved non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls. It is committed to Gender Equality, Empowerment, Education, Employment, and Diversity & Fellowship and is an advocate for women’s empowerment.
For more information, to volunteer or to donate visit www.thiswomanswork.biz
Vickie Semander donates an abundance of gift cards to Carla Lane, Founder of This Woman’s Work
Cary and Judge Clarease Yates drop off donations
Beautiful dresses donated
Getting the dresses ready
Prom Shoes!
Dresses being sorted by sizes