The local special-needs community is preparing to show off the latest fashions, just in time for spring.
Henry County Parks and Recreation and Circle of Friends will host a Day of Beauty Fashion Show Friday from 6-8 p.m., at the Locust Grove Event Center, 280 Mose Brown Drive. The third annual event will feature spring fashions from local independent business owners, as well as a silent auction.
Cheryl Williams, therapeutic recreation specialist, is one of the coordinators for the festivities. She said the fashion show tops off a week of activities designed to shine a spotlight on the local special-needs community.
“We have been doing a Day of Beauty on that Monday, and that Friday we do the fashion show,” said Williams. “I have a total of 14 models that will be modeling spring fashions. I have a total of nine escorts that will escort them in their formal event.”
Williams said the event “keeps getting bigger and bigger,” since inception three years ago. In addition to the fashion show, some Circle of Friends participants will display their talents in other ways, including singer Chip Ford and budding comedienne Kayleen Larsen.
Circle of Friends is a social group under the Parks and Recreation umbrella, with events throughout the year for individuals with special needs. Participants in the fashion show are often involved with other groups including People First of Henry County and the Special Olympics.
Henry County is sponsoring the event, along with Pro Tree Expert Tree Removal in Jonesboro. Proceeds from the fashion show will go to Henry County’s Therapeutic Recreation program, in the form of a Circle of Friends fund, said Williams.
“Circle of Friends is designed to get the participants out of the house to socialize with one another,” she said. “We have a Get Fit program to get them more in a healthy mindset. It’s just another way of them coming together and supporting one another in a healthy way. That’s what we try to do, we try to build healthy relationships within the community.”
The event will also honor the memory of a past Circle of Friends participant with a Shining Star award. The 2018 Shining Star winner, Natasha Hemrick, will pass on her title to this year’s recipient, said Williams.
“In 2017, we lost one of our participants who was involved in our fashion show, Kara Maker,” said Williams. “We will be announcing a new shining star this year. This is voted on by all of those who are involved in the fashion show.” Tickets for the event are on sale for $5 each. For more information, visit www.co.henry.ga .us/Events or call Cheryl Williams at 770-288-7292.
