Michigan church sponsors prom for people with disabilities

From The Herald-Palladium: In the picture, Rick Barlow of St. Joseph kisses the hand of Lynne Reuter of St. Joseph during the start of “The Prom: An Evening with the Stars” at First Church of God.

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. - It's not hard to feel special when flashbulbs explode everywhere and the red carpet walk feels like it's a mile long.

But for people like Jessica Fuson, 23, of Niles, First Church of God's special prom for people with disabilities made her feel as special as what the title promised, "The Prom: An Evening with the Stars."

"I think it's really awesome. I don't have any other words to describe it," Fuson said as she waited to get a photo taken with her escort, Gordon Schreiber of St. Joseph.

Fuson, a student at Blossomland Learning Center, has been dealing with cerebral palsy since she was 2, "which was when my legs had collapsed," she said.

"When I was 10, I had three of my vertebrae removed, and when I was 15, they removed three more," Fuson said. "That was during my freshman year, which was pretty crappy."

But on Saturday night, none of that mattered to Fuson, clad in a shiny blue dress, with a queen's crown tilted proudly on her head. "I've thought about this every night of the week," she said.

Twin City Camera Club member Dan Brant of Berrien Center was among those who did their best to keep the flashbulbs popping.

"It's a win-win. It's a little hectic, but it's a lot of fun," said Brant, who estimated that he was taking 20 prom pictures per hour.

Watervliet resident Ronald Lott, 41, cut an equally imposing figure in his 1920s-era gangster outfit from Men's Wearhouse of Mishawaka, Ind.

Decked out in a black tuxedo, with white spats covering his torpedo-shaped leather shoes, Lott looked truly dressed to kill - with the ride to match, he said.

"I came here in a big limo - a big white limo," Lott said, using his hands to illustrate the size. "That was really something."

Lott's escort, Stevensville resident Jim Clark, looked on and smiled. "They (spectators) love the outfit. That's the reaction he's gotten all night," Clark said.

Such reports were pleasing to Chris Craig, one of the forces behind Saturday's event, for which planning began in April.

To make the event happen, First Church of God worked volunteers from several other churches, including the Baroda Church of God, First Congregational Church, Overflow Church and First United Methodist Church, Craig said.

Craig estimated that the prom drew about 300 people with residents ranging in age from 16 to 72, with just about every type of social group represented, he said.

"We probably have about 30 to 40 people in wheelchairs," Craig said.

"We have people who are legally blind. You name the disability, and it's probably represented here. We're hoping that it (the prom) becomes a regular thing - whether every year, or every other year, we'll have to see."

About 300 volunteers were on hand to provide another old-fashioned Hollywood touch - to serve as escorts, who guided teens and adults with physical and mental disabilities through Saturday's festivities.

There was plenty of traditional dinner and dancing, for those inclined, along with rounds of karaoke, touch-up stations for hair and makeup, and opportunities for formal prom pictures, too.

The dance floor kept humming, thanks to the Baroda Church Band, which gave well-known pop songs - like George Harrison's "Got My Mind Set On You," for example - with a distinctively Christian lyrical flavor.

Near the first-floor elevator, traffic virtually stopped as several wheelchair-bound residents from Benton Harbor's Glen Home prepared to take the elevator to visit the comedy club downstairs.

"Well, I'm a program manager, and I thought it'd be a great opportunity for them (the residents) to get out and meet new people," said Angela Purnell of Benton Harbor.

For many participants, Saturday's event marked the first prom that they'd attended in their lives - such as South Haven resident Michele Woods, who prepared to take command of the dance floor with her escort, Sherrill Wesner of St. Joseph.

"I live with my mom and dad. I've got a dog named Mutt and a cane at home," said Woods, who's legally blind, meaning that she has some vision, but needs help getting around.

That wouldn't be any problem, thanks to a little help from Wesner, who looked on approvingly.

"First of all, I attend this church, and I thought it was so exciting," said Wesner, explaining how she got involved. "I knew I had to be part of it - so I rented my tux."

Like those who felt the excitement, Schreiber had no doubt there would be more to come.

"We're all pretty glad to be a part of this, and I'm pretty sure this will happen again," he said.