SUFFOLK, Va. - Kiana Grant and Tiara Whitfield take great pride in showing off gowns that are part of a project they are working on. The students are members of Nansemond River High's DECA chapter.
The group is helping collect prom dresses to give away to students in need.
Most dresses are stored in a storage unit. The initial goal was 100, but they now have well over 500 gowns stored there, many of them brand new.
Local author Tamiya Davis is teaming up with Candace Credle, a marketing teacher at Nansemond River High and a co-advisor of the school's DECA chapter.
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The two thought this was the perfect community service program for students in the school's DECA program, and so did News 3. This is why we surprised them with a People Taking Action award and a $300 Visa gift card from our community partner, Southern Bank.
They were thankful for the recognition and support from the community, says Candace.
"Tamiya and I know....we have several friends who are entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Hampton Roads, and they opened up their business and allowed us to have drop boxes in their locations to collect gowns."
They are grateful, especially for one anonymous donor they describe as the "dress angel." That unnamed person is responsible for 80% of the 500 gowns they have collected so far.
Now, due to the coronavirus concerns and its impact on school activities, the gown giveaway scheduled for March 28 has been postponed. But once school officials give the go-ahead, they plan to reschedule the event.
To nominate someone for a People Taking Action Award, email us at takingaction@wtkr.com.
