Group of Westport students making prom more affordable for Fall River, New Bedford area students; here is how

A group of Westport High School students have figured out a special way to help local kids have a great prom.

STEEL (Students That Exemplify Extraordinary Leadership) is a group of Westport High School upperclassmen that want to make their community and surrounding communities a better place for everyone. To be a member of S.T.E.E.L., you have to want to be a leader, someone who wants to motivate others to reach a common goal.

According to the group’s advisor, Melissa Maltais-Avila, who is an alum herself and has taught in the community for 23 years, the goal is to get students out into the community to see what others are struggling with or need help with and be those helpers. The groups newest venture does just that.

STEEL is collecting prom/semi formal dresses as well as suits from now until March 24th. On April 1st, they will be holding a Prom pop-up shop for students from local communities to come to shop and choose a dress/suit free of charge.

The gently used attire can be dropped off Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the new Westport Middle High School, 400 Old County Road at the front office. The pop-up shop will also take place at the school.

Local high schoolers will be able to shop at the pop-up shop including Westport, Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, Dartmouth, and New Bedford. The more items that are donated, the more choices the prom attendees will have.

STEEL is also hosting a Coursage and Boutonniere Raffle for $5 a ticket. Any monetary donations that they receive will be donated to a non-profit of the STEEL groups choice.

STEEL members have taken part in other community ventures including:

*The Westport Food Pantry
*Held a toy drive for St. Vincent’s Home in Fall River and spent an afternoon there working on holiday crafts with some of the students.
*The Macomber School in Westport to help with their holiday play.
*A Wish Come True- filled mailings for their upcoming gala in April
*The Rotary Club of Fall River filling Blessing Bags
*Prom Attire Fundraiser for local students
*Corsage/Boutonniere Raffle for Prom florals with help from Rustic Rose Florals of Fall River

The group also has other events in the works including:

*My Brother’s Keeper furniture deliveries
*Spectrum Empowerment Project working with students and their job coaches
*Westport Elementary School Multicultural Night with grade 2 students and families

If you have any questions about the drive or want to join the group, contact Melissa at MAVILA@WESTPORTSCHOOLS.ORG.