Photo By Staff Sgt. Youtoy Martin | Spc. Natasha Manning-Redmond (center), chaplain assistant Headquarters and...... read more read more
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Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington – There were no magic wands or singing mice, but for a group of young women who needed help getting to their prom, Spc. Natasha Manning-Redmond and two sorority sisters were nothing short of fairy godmothers.
A chaplain’s assistant assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, I Corps, Manning-Redmond said she has always considered community service important. That, coupled with her own memories of prom drove her to try and help four Clover Park High Schools Seniors who may have needed some financial assistance to attend the prom.
“I remember my mom stressing about paying for my dress, paying for my shoes. It was so stressful on her,” said Manning-Redmond as she reminisced about her own prom in 2001 at John Bartram High School in her hometown of Philadelphia Penn. “Thinking about it, that stuff really adds up.”
Last year around this time Manning-Redmond helped one student attend her prom. She said she was put in contact with the student after telling school employees she was willing to help girls who couldn’t afford to attend. The student called her a “fairy godmother”.
Manning, who at one point, lived in homeless shelter with her mother said she understands that sometimes people just need a little help.
“I was always into community service and volunteering is one the most important things for me, besides my family,” Manning-Redmond said.
This year she was able to help young women from the high school with help from Sgt. 1st Class Ericka Parker, and Staff Sgt. Phylicia Rolland.
The three belong to military sorority, Kappa Epsilon Psi. A part of their sorority’s mission is to provide mentorship and give back to the community according to Parker, who’s been a member since 2015.
Together the three contributed about $700 toward makeup, hair stylists, shoes and other prom preparations.
The day before the prom the students accompanied Manning-Redmond to a spa where they received manicures and pedicures.
Preparations on the day of prom, May 13, took place at Manning-Redmond’s house, where two beauticians waited to help the students look their best for the big night.
The sorority sisters gave the excited prom goers retrospective advice and shared their own memories of prom.
“Prom is definitely a big deal at the end of a school year,” said Parker. “Anything to help, give back or award someone else an opportunity to have a great time, especially when they have sacrificed and worked so hard in school, I’m all for it.”
Eighteen-year-old Erika Savedra, a member of the school prom committee and one of the recipients of the “fairy godmother” package said she was “thankful” for Manning-Redmond’s help.
“She really hooked us up,” said Savedra, as she sat waiting to be glammed up by the beauticians at Manning-Redmond’s home on prom day.
Manning-Redmond also attended the prom with the teens as a chaperone.
She said she plans to continue helping students from the school attend prom, as long as she’s stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord.
During the prom, she received word that a young man asked for her assistance in attending prom next year. While the last two-years have been an all-female affair, she said next year she will host an all-male event.
“Males need the same treatment,” she said. “But no curling hair and makeup, unless they want to. I don’t judge.”
| Date Taken: | 05.19.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.19.2017 18:28 |
| Story ID: | 234557 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Hometown: | LAKEWOOD, WA, US |
| Hometown: | PHILADELPHIA, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 580 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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