Toms River South Seniors Celebrate With Downtown Prom

TOMS RIVER, NJ — After a year that began with great uncertainty, the Toms River South Class of 2021 celebrated with its senior prom and the beginnings of a return to normalcy by dancing in the street Thursday night.

Their dance floor was a section of Washington Street, highlighted by lights strung across the road. Dinner was served on disposable plates with disposable cutlery and bottled water. There were balloons and photo props and a DJ and a photographer.

And in a nod to "Grease," there was even a Ferris wheel.

All of it, from the food to the Ferris wheel, was covered by donations — of money, of food and of time — by adults determined to make sure the senior class had a night to remember.

"It's been a true community effort," Toms River South principal Mike Citta said, as he waited for students to arrive.

The Ocean County Board of Commissioners approved closing the street for the night. The Toms River Police Department provided extra officers to keep the kids safe. Public works employees hung the lights for the dance floor, and school district staff turned the lawn of Toms River Town Hall into the dining area, with tables and tablecloths, centerpieces of flowers and commemorative mugs.

And there were maroon and white balloons, lots and lots of balloons, to make the area festive.

The plan to hold the prom outdoors developed over months of discussions, Citta said, with students and community members reaching the conclusion that it would be a fitting way to celebrate the community's support for Toms River South's seniors.

"Heading into this September we were hopeful that COVID restrictions would be lifted and we could keep our original venue for our Class of 2021 prom," he said. But the backup plan became the perfect solution.

"It was an easy decision to make," Citta said.

Limits on outdoor gatherings, which eased in April and were lifted completely as of Wednesday, took away some of the final restrictions that have vexed authorities in various areas for months.

Local restaurants donated food and desserts and soft drinks and water. Monetary donations paid for other aspects of the evening, including the Ferris wheel. The ServPro family provided significant help, in honor of owner Michael Reilly, a Toms River South graduate who died in December from complications of COVID-19, Citta said.

"Some of those who donated provided items at cost, some provided them for free," he said. The result was that because of all the donations, the expenses of the prom were covered. Students paid $40 for prom bids, but that money will go to their other senior events.

Citta said the low-cost prom bids were a tremendous gift to the students in a year where finances for most of the families in the Toms River South community are very tight.

"Our students, they work," he said, noting that for much of the year, they could not because so much was shut down or hours were limited.

"The overwhelming support and donations and volunteers from our staff and community turned our outside prom into a magical night that will be remembered for a lifetime," Citta said.

Citta thanked the sponsors, supporters and volunteers, including the following:

• Toms River Township Council and Administrative Teams
• Ocean County Commissioners
• Toms River Police Department
• Ocean County Sheriff's Department
• Toms River Business Improvement District
• Toms River Public Works
• Toms River Parks and Recreation
• Toms River Schools
• Chubby Penguin Events and Parties
• Servpro of Toms River
• Capones
• OHANA Food truck
• Dollar General of Whiting
• Party Fair of Toms River
• A Thyme for all Season
• BJs Toms River
• TSO Sports
• Bindi Desserts
• Berkeley Candy Sweet Shop
• Garden State Distillery
• Luigis Deli and Meat Market
• Battle River Brewing
• A Quality Air-Heating and Air-Conditioning
• T&D Distributors
• ShopRite
• Mandolli's Custom Cakes and Confectionary
• Drips and Kicks
• Jenna Elizabeth Studios
• Pine Beach PBA

Citta also said the night wouldn't have been possible without "the greatest volunteer workforce on the planet, the Toms River High School South staff."

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