by Nathan Hunt |

Many remember the tornados that hit in early May of last year. One of the hardest towns hit from those horrendous storms was Joplin. About a year after the tragedy as the pieces are still being picked up, a new issue has arisen for students of Joplin High School: how will they afford Prom when all the money is going towards the town rebuilding itself? One solution has come to light that many had not expected. A national project has sprouted up into the lime light; Project: Joplin Prom.
This was first introduced when celebrity Katy Perry unveiled the project via a video telling the students of Joplin about the plan.
“I’m so proud of each and every one of you,” Perry said in the speech, “Especially in this past year, I know that there have been some challenges, and you have been through a lot.” Perry went on to say that Project: Joplin Prom was going to be created to help give students the Prom of their dreams. This project is donating dresses, shoes, jewelry, tuxes and other Prom wear for the young adults of Joplin to wear for free to their Prom this Spring. People all over the country are becoming involved, including the teachers and students of Liberty High School.
“I saw the news broadcast from Channel 41 online, I actually did not see it on the T.V. When the teacher was crying and talking about how she was worried about her kids and Prom for them; I could understand that kind of connection to your students,” communication arts teacher Briday Ware said. “Her getting emotional got me emotional and I instantly went online and looked up her name and sent her an email asking how I could help. I do not think I have ever been quite so motivated to do something like that.” Ware has now been a major activist for the Project: Joplin Prom.
“Melissa Blakeman is the lady who started the ‘Joplin Prom Project 2012,’ which you can find on Facebook. Basically, we are just jumping on the band wagon with them; collecting dresses and other  ready to wear clothes for the kids who have nothing so they can walk in on March the 10th and pick out something to wear to their Prom,” Ware said. Yet not only dresses are needed, but monetary donations to help with the expenses of Prom. One of these expenses is the After Prom party, which gives students a safe event to go to after Prom.
“We are also collecting financial donations to help them buy and purchase whatever they might need for Prom. Knowing that they have the After Prom party that is safe, so maybe this money will buy prizes for those kids. I am not sure exactly how those donations will be used but it is all for student use. I have checked to make sure that is valid because I want to make sure that what we are doing is right. Just knowing that we do not know what kind of needs they have and will continue to have in the future. They are going to have needs for years to come,” Ware said.
“Amber Travis, the teacher at Joplin, started a letter campaign to try to look for what to do for her kids for Prom. That is actually how Katy Perry got involved in doing the Promo video. There have been organizations that have donated to this project also,” Ware said. Ware organized a group of students to help her collect the donations and dresses from around LHS.
“I really like Mrs. Ware and just the way she was inspired to do it; it made our whole class want to help. I don’t think anyone decided not to help,” junior Jessie Adams said. The fifth hour British Literature II class that Ware teaches helped work a table at lunch to help get the word out and make it easier for students to donate.
“I work the table at lunch; I also talk to my friends and inform them about it. Whenever we work at lunch, we just harass people so they know about it,” junior Tyre Russel said, “Since Student Council juniors are planning Libertys’ Prom, I know how much money goes into that. I know how much it is needed in Joplin.”
With the Project: Joplin Prom being advertised throughout the halls and also on KLHS, many dresses have been donated to the cause. Yet, there have been many other items donated by the students of LHS as well.
“I donated a pair of shoes and I feel good because they are nice shoes but they are really more Prom-y. I feel like someone who has big feet and maybe 5’11 may get to wear some nice shoes now. Hopefully they will have a good night because of me,” senior Alexis Borchardt said. However, some are feeling a bit reluctant to donate their used Prom clothes to Project: Joplin Prom.
“I understand why you would not want to give away your first Prom dress or something; but fashions are going to change anyway. Right now that Prom dress is still relatively new and you might as well give it back to someone who is able to wear it; especially since everything can be reused,” Borchardt said. Even if some students do not donate their used Prom wear, all the donations given will make a big impact on the students of Joplin and their one special night.
“This one night could make a really big difference for them because no one wants to spend money when you already have a catastrophe that has gone on,” Borchardt said.