Suffolk Police Prom Impact offers high schoolers dresses, tuxes, accessories for free

Tulle scrunched in their gentle fists, high school seniors Kiara Cardenas and Nana Ntori twirled and swayed at the end of the red carpet.

Both 18 years old, the Brentwood High School classmates had arrived at the Suffolk County Police Academy on Saturday to browse free prom attire with low expectations. But in its ninth year, the police department's Prom Impact event offered students hundreds of dresses, suits, tuxedos, accessories and cosmetics at no cost.

"We kind of came here with an impression that we're not going to really find anything," said Cardenas, who wore a floor-length baby blue gown speckled with rhinestones.

Ntori chose a white dress with gold detailing. Each of the two was told she could also bring home an alternate option.

The event, organized by the police department's LGBTQ Society and its president, Det. Sgt. Tamika Mays, draws donations from members of the department, residents of the community and businesses, said SCPD Commissioner Kevin Catalina.

"Last year, one of the people who work in our office actually saw a girl try on her daughter's prom dress, and it was really kind of cool to see for her," Catalina said. "To see it used again."

Students shopped racks of dresses and suits in the spectrum of sizes and colors. Ties in solids and patterns — paisley, stripes, polka dots — and shoes with intricate broguing overtook tabletops.

A cosmetics area was stocked with nail polishes in pinks and reds and greens and glitters. There were false eyelashes and press-on manicure sets, sparkly necklaces and earrings, purses covered in beads and sequins.

Students tried on clothing in nearby locker rooms, then walked the red carpet in their selections. As the carpet ran out, a videographer asked each attendee to confirm they had "said yes" to the dress or suit.

"When you actually go and watch these kids trying on their dresses and their suits and you see the look on their faces, it really warms your heart," Catalina said in a phone interview Friday night.

A Patchogue-Medford High School student chose a black suit with a matching bow tie. An Amityville High School student tried on six dresses before deciding on a silver option whose fabric covered her zebra-striped heels.

William Floyd High School student Janiyah Dent, 17, shopped surrounded by the women in her family. Alongside her mother, grandmother and two sisters, Dent tried on a maroon-hued dress with gold detailing.

"I just wanted to look at dresses and, you know, feel beautiful," Dent said of her decision to come out on Saturday.

The event is the police department's attempt to make prom attendance an option for students regardless of their financial situations.

"Dresses and suits today are so expensive," said Catalina, who walked some of the students down the runway. "In order for somebody to do it, they have to have the financial ability, and if they don't know about an event like this, maybe they're going to skip going to prom."