Help sought in organizing senior citizen prom

[Shutterstock]

The Salvation Army – Ocala Corps’ is inviting the community to support and participate in a first-ever senior prom for senior citizens living in its Evangeline Booth Apartments as well as three other HUD-supported senior living apartments in Ocala.

The event is set for 4 to 7 p.m. June 25 at the Salvation Army’s 2901 NE 14^th St. location. 

“Many seniors living in apartment communities are restricted in social activities due to limited transportation, financial resources and awareness. Lack of interaction with others so often leads to feelings of loneliness and isolation,” said Major Jason Smith, corps officer for The Salvation Army-Ocala Corps. “We have the facility and some volunteers, so the thought was, why not re-create a prom during the decades many of our residents would have attended and invite other HUD-supported senior apartments in the area?”  

Besides Evangeline Booth Garden Apartments, the other HUD-supported apartments are Trinity Villas, Heritage Oaks and Magnolia Walk Apartments.

Maureen Quinlan, the local Salvation Army community relations and volunteer coordinator, outlined a few ways people and businesses can support the endeavor: 

• Volunteers – We always welcome new volunteers and we will need “prom chaperones.”
• Dresses/suits – The attendees can dress as they wish but we did want to offer dressy items for the seniors to wear. Most likely, an attendee will not have the financial resources to purchase a one-time-wear dress or suit jacket. With proms ending, I am hoping for donations. If the senior does not want to keep the clothes, they will be donated to our thrift store or saved for next year.
• Food – From restaurants, caterers, bakeries, etc.
• Flowers – For boutonnieres for the men and flowers for the women to hold or pin.
• Entertainment – DJ or band, hula dancers, etc.
• Decorations – Maybe someone has some left from a previous event.
• Photographer – To take pictures with a luau theme backdrop

“We are going to crown a king and queen, like at a homecoming, and are planning for an ice breaker game to get everyone to socialize at the beginning,” Quinlan noted.

“The heart of the Salvation Army’s mission is to spread the gospel of Jesus, and our corps is doing this by reaching out to the senior communities to show love and care. There are almost 500 HUD-funded apartments in Marion County for low-income seniors. That number sounds like a lot, but the need for affordable senior housing is greater,” Smith stated.

If you or your business would like to be a sponsor or volunteer for the senior prom event, contact Quinlan at [email protected] or (352) 629-2004.