For one night in February, adults and teens with special needs will get the red carpet treatment and their very own prom at a Scott Depot church.
Church at the Depot will be the only church in the Kanawha Valley to hold "Night to Shine," a national prom night for teens and adults with special needs.
"It provides a night that celebrates who they are, their value, and how God loves them and takes limits off," Matt Davis, staff pastor at Church at the Depot, said.
"Night to Shine" is an international program of the Tim Tebow Foundation, with more than 300 churches worldwide holding similar events.
The dance, which will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 10, aims to give people with special needs a chance to feel like celebrities. The event will start with a limo ride throughout the church's property leading to a red carpet welcome for all guests, then free hair and makeup stations, shoe shining and corsages and boutonnieres.
After guests finish dressing up, the church will provide a free dinner and dancing. Every guest will be crowned prom king and queen during the event.
People accompanying guests of the event will also receive a free catered meal, and will have the chance to relax during the event.
More than 100 guests have already registered for the event.
Davis said the event is a chance for the church to also reach out to people in the community.
"It's a great night for us to express what we're about to a broader audience," Davis said.
This is the second year the church has held the event. Davis said last year's event was highly successful, and brought the church closer together. They undertook new efforts to reach out to the community.
"It sparked a new level of momentum of ministry mindedness for the church," Davis said.
For Davis, the event is personal. His cousin has spina bifida, a birth defect that causes a person's spine to not develop properly. Still, they would play basketball together after school and attend piano lessons.
"I do understand what the struggle is for these families, to a certain extent," Davis said.
Outside volunteers are accepted at the event, but they must register on the church's website by Monday so the church can conduct a background check and organize. Guests can register at the time of the event.
For more information about "Night to Shine," visit www.churchatthedepot.com/night-to-shine.
Reach Ali Schmitz at ali.schmitz@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @schmitzmedia on Twitter.