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Girl's Future Firefighter Camp and CREC Academy of Science and Innovation's prom gown giveaway
On Monday, April 25, Girl’s Future Firefighter Camp (GFFC) and CREC Academy of Science and Innovation (ASI) distributed prom gowns to juniors and seniors at ASI. Shelly Carter, who is the first female African American Fire Captain in Operations in Connecticut history, founded the GFFC and will be present at the event.
Carter and the GFFC collected over 500 brand-new gowns in all colors, sizes, and styles to share with the juniors and seniors.
“Each of us can aspire to be a firefighter,” said Carter. “Each of us, too, deserves to feel beautiful, wrap ourselves in exquisite fabrics, and attend prom in the gown of our dreams!”ASI also received contributions from several other local businesses to help dress students for their prom at this event, including DXL Men’s apparel in Manchester, Men’s Warehouse in South Windsor, David’s Bridal in Manchester, and K&G Fashion in Manchester.
"I felt like the Girl's Future Firefighter Camp was a big opportunity for us. We've never had a gown giveaway this big here before. The gowns were new and beautiful--all the girls felt the same,” said BriAsia Barnes, a junior at ASI. “All of us were super happy with our gown choices. And, I think the GFFC is also a wonderful opportunity to see what a career in firefighting could be like. When I was younger, I'd thought about it for a career. I might like to consider it again as a potential career. All in all, great opportunities!"
The mission of GFFC is to educate and empower young women and inspire them to pursue a career in the fire service or a related field.
“I strive to speak to the importance of addressing the whole female so she can become confident, courageous, and strong,” added Carter. “I will endeavor to teach her that whatever she puts her mind to she can accomplish.”
"We came together with our school and family community to offer a glimpse of short and long-term futures: a night for our girls to feel gorgeous, and a potential firefighting career of service and purpose. It worked out well!" said Joan Hurley, the ASI teacher leading the event with GFFC.
GFFCs provide hands-on experiences in all aspects of the fire service: EMS training, First Aid, CPR, ropes and knots, babysitting, HP dispatch, hoseline operations, confined space training, paramedic skills, hierarchy of command (command officers, supervisors, firefighters) explorations, fitness, nutrition and more.
A camp will be held at a New Britain Firehouse this summer (as well as GFFCs in Rhode Island, New Jersey, and other Connecticut locations). They hope to engage many girls from CREC to join the program.
“It was encouraging, for people who didn’t want to go to prom or didn’t think they could find a dress, they were able to go in and find something,” said ASI senior Trinyty Thomas. “I am thankful for the people who put this together because they made it possible for girls to find dresses and not stress about paying for expensive dresses and having to put money toward something for just one night.”
“I felt like it was uplifting, having so many people come together and help young girls. I thought it was really nice,” said ASI senior Ariana Vicens.
CREC Academy of Science and Innovation School’s website is http://asi.crecschools.org
Girl’s Future Firefighter Camp’s website is https://girlsfuturefirefightercamp.com/
