"We wanted to give the kids something. They've missed so much this year," said Kristen Dombach. "This is one way we can give back and bless them before they move on."
Dombach and Sherri Bleacher are co-chairs of the Solanco High School post-prom committee, which is made of seniors' parents. When the 2018-19 school year ended, the committee had already held its first fundraiser and was brainstorming themes for this year's post-prom. However, with the closure of school buildings and the prohibition of large gatherings, prom and post-prom were canceled.
Now that it appears that Lancaster County will be moving into the green phase of reopening this summer, the post-prom committee has retooled its original plans and will host a prom/senior celebration on Saturday, Aug. 1, the day after Solanco High School's slated outdoor graduation event.
"We thought this would be our best chance for this," Dombach said, suggesting that if students come back from college, military postings, or wherever in the world they might be for the graduation event, they might be able to stay an extra day for the class party.
The prom will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Kreider Building of the Solanco Fairgrounds, 172 S. Lime St., Quarryville, with the celebration taking place on the upper ballfield and in the SECA pool from 9 p.m. to midnight. The Kreider Building will be elegantly decorated, Dombach said, adding, "We want to create some kind of fun entrance, but beyond that, it will be an attractive, formal-looking event."
Formalwear is welcome, as many people had already purchased fancy attire for prom. There will be space to change into casual clothing for outdoor activities after the catered meal and dancing. Dombach noted that giant inflatables will be available for play during the senior celebration.
There is no cost for members of the Class of 2020 to attend the prom/senior celebration. Guests are welcome, with the same rules in place as for prom: guests must be under age 21, and they must provide identification at the event. Registration for seniors and their guests is required by Tuesday, June 30, so the committee can finalize plans accordingly.
The Kreider Building will be open to the public for a walkthrough on Aug. 1 from 4 to 4:45 p.m. Then, visitors are invited to line the driveway to welcome event attendees and their guests. Visitors may bring signs, banners, balloons, and other items to give the students a warm welcome.
Teachers have been invited to volunteer to help with the event and to have another opportunity to say farewell to the Class of 2020, and parents may provide assistance as well, Dombach said. Additionally, the post-prom committee is accepting donations of funds, grocery store gift certificates, and beverages in bottles or cans. Also needed are an event photographer, a french fry stand, a funnel cake stand, and a milkshake stand.
Dombach noted that due to the shutdown, the committee was unable to hold three fundraisers. The group is committed to doing its best to host an enjoyable evening for the students, and it wanted to offer admission free of charge so that difficult financial circumstances would not prevent anyone from attending.
An ongoing challenge facing post-prom in general is storage space, and Dombach shared that while the members of the committee change each year, a consistent place to store props and other supplies from year to year is important. The group needs an indoor weatherproof area for storage or land to park one or two tractor-trailers that currently house post-prom supplies. The committee reuses walls and other building supplies each year to help reduce the cost of the event.
Anyone who would like to participate in the Solanco prom/senior celebration as an attendee, volunteer, or supporter, as well as those with storage solutions, may email Dombach at kristendom@epix.net.
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