Night to Shine sparkles at First Methodist

By Amanda Rogers

Mansfield Record

Allison Shelby started the morning with a manicure and hair appointment, and ended the evening partying with more than 100 friends at a Night to Shine at First Methodist Mansfield.

After a two-year COVID-induced break, the special needs prom returned in style with a balloon arch, drumline from Mansfield High School, limo rides and dancing the night away on the gymnasium floor.

“A full prom experience is our goal,” said Raelyna Ford, director of included special needs ministry at First Methodist Mansfield. “We start planning this in August and they start talking about it in August. They feel like they are the king of the world, like they matter. They shine the way Christ made them to shine.”

The Tim Tebow Foundation started Night to Shine in 2014, working with churches around the world to provide a prom night experience for people with special needs age 14 and older.

More than 170 volunteers showed up to decorate, feed, apply makeup, give shoe shines and cheer for the 106 attendees at Friday night’s event at First Methodist Mansfield. After holding the prom from 2017-2020, the COVID pandemic forced the 2021 and 2022 events to be drive-thru affairs.

But it wasn’t the same, say the organizers and prom-goers.

“Everyone is so happy to be here,” Ford said. “The volunteers are so happy. It’s just not the same when it’s a drive-thru. It’s not the same when you can’t give hugs.”

The party starts before the attendees even enter the building with a red carpet flanked by cheering crowds, photographers, videographers and music. Prom-goers check in and get teamed up with a buddy, who shadows them all evening until they are picked up.

“The buddy keeps them safe and gives them one-on-one attention,” Ford said. “If they want to dance, they dance. If they want to eat, they eat.”

Chris Curtis is an old hand at the Night to Shine. He’s attended so many times that his family bought him a tuxedo so they wouldn’t have to rent one every year.

“He’s a dancing machine,” said Chris’ mom, Belinda Curtis. “He’s up at the front playing air guitar. He loves it. Being graced by all the volunteers, it’s just unbelievable. It warms our hearts.”

Chris arrived ready for the party after a shave, shoe shine and with a brand-new red bow tie.

“It’s fun!” he said. “I like the dancing, the music and the limo rides. I’ve missed it the past few years.”

Allison Shelby had spent the day getting pampered.

“My mom did my makeup and my grandma got me ready,” she said.

A veteran of several Night to Shine parties, she was looking forward to the food and the limo rides, too, but especially being with her friends and meeting new people, she said.

Before the prom, the church held a “Say Yes to the Dress” event for girls to check out donated prom gowns, and after arriving at the prom they could get their hair and makeup done. All the prom-goers could pick out a corsage or boutonniere, snap their picture in the photo booth, sing in the karaoke rooms, dine on Chick-Fil-A, go for a ride in the limousine or stretch Hummer and boogie on the gym floor to the disc jockey.

At the end of the evening, everyone was crowned the king and queen of the prom and balloons dropped from the ceiling.

There was also a sensory room if participants started to feel overwhelmed, a respite room for parents who needed to stay and two nurses to keep everyone safe.

The event is free for prom-goers, with the $8,000-plus cost covered by First Methodist Mansfield and donations from church members and local businesses.

“It just fills my bucket seeing how happy they are and how wonderful they are,” Ford said. “It just makes me happy.”

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