Night to Shine: Prom for those with special needs will be held next month

Texarkana is having its first Night to Shine prom from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Texarkana, Ark., Convention Center.

"Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God's love, for people with special needs ages 14 and older," according to the Tim Tebow Foundation website. "On one night, Feb. 9, 2018, more than 540 churches from around the world will come together to host Night to Shine for approximately 90,000 honored guests through the support of 175,000 volunteers."

Cross Pointe Baptist Church and Highland Park Baptist Church are the lead churches bringing the event to this area. Many other local churches and area nonprofits are helping with the event.

"We have tried to reach out to every special needs adult in the area to make sure no one is left out," said Sam Clem, executive director of Runnin' WJ Ranch, an organization helping with Night to Shine. "This is about the special needs community knowing their worth. It's for their self-esteem."

Clem expects around 400 people to attend the prom. For many, it will be their first such experience.

"A lot of these folks are 40 or 50 years old and have never been to a prom. This will be their chance to be part of something and to feel special," Clem said.

Anyone interested in attending is asked to register at RunninWJranch.org. People interested in volunteering are also asked to register. Background checks will be run on volunteers.

Other needs for the event include candy, cookies, gum, pens, trinkets or promotional materials that will be used in goodie bags for those attending.

"Everybody that comes to the event will leave with a goodie bag," Clem said.

Donations can be dropped off at Runnin WJ Ranch, 4802 S. Kings Highway, Texarkana, Texas.

Next year, organizers will be collecting formal dresses and suits to give to people attending the prom, but formal dress isn't necessary to attend.

"This is a prom. They're supposed to wear their Sunday best or dress up, but if you wear blue jeans, it's fine. Nobody will judge them," Clem said. "We're going to mail out letters to 2,400 churches in a 100-mile radius of Texarkana and ask them to donate leftover prom stuff, and we have the warehouse space to store it."

For more information, call Clem at 903-244-1397.

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