Center Hill Masonic Lodge #77 Makes Donation to DCHS Special Needs Prom. Pictured, left to right, are Lodge Junior Warden Danny Pirtle, Hope Carter, CDC Special Education Teacher, Sara Young, DCHS Service Society sponsor and Math teacher, Lodge Master Don Adamson, Senior Warden Dustin Estes and Lodge Secretary Don Craze.
A week after making a donation to DeKalb Middle School in support of its student garden project, members of Center Hill Masonic Lodge #77 presented another $200 check Friday, this time at DeKalb County High School for the Service Society Club’s Special Needs Prom which will be held at the school Friday, May 3.
Making the presentation were Lodge Master Don Adamson, Senior Warden Dustin Estes, Junior Warden Danny Pirtle and Secretary Don Craze. Receiving the donation were Sara Young, DCHS Service Society sponsor and Math teacher, and Hope Carter, CDC Special Education Teacher.
The Special Needs Prom was started five years ago for DCHS students unable to attend the regular high school prom.
“Every year we host a special needs prom for the 15-18 students in CDC classes mostly but a few other students are also invited. They are our honored guests at this prom,” said Young. “It’s held at DCHS because the environment here is more conducive to them and they are able to enjoy the night more than going to the regular prom in Lebanon. Some of these students are not able to attend that prom,” Young explained. “This is their opportunity to have their own prom and not miss out on that event. We will assign peer buddies to the special needs students to make sure they have a good time, dance, and get to go on a limo ride around town. They will get a full meal and we will have a photo booth set up. Chris and Holly Moore will deejay for us. We appreciate this donation from Center Hill Masonic Lodge and we will use this money to provide a full meal for the special needs students. Usually, the CDC Class covers the limo rental through their fundraisers including the sale of car fresheners that they make,” said Young.
“Yes, we make car fresheners,” added Carter. “It’s an industrial type lesson for the kids to help them learn money and job skills. They make them (car fresheners) and we have some (students) who distribute them if it’s within the school setting and they save up that money and it goes into their account to rent the limo,” said Carter.
In addition to being involved on Special Needs Prom Night, Service Society students join in the effort to make preparations.
“We will transform the cafeteria and make it look nice,” said Young. “The Service Society students will help decorate before the prom. My service society kids say this prom is more fun than the regular prom. We always have so much fun and it’s my favorite event of the whole school year,” said Young.
“I also enjoy being with the kids and seeing their happy faces,” added Carter.
