Students dress up for free for prom at KeyBank Center

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The KeyBank Center transformed into a men’s formal wear store for the day, as dozens of high school students purchased their prom suits for free.

Thayne Cobb looks sharply dressed for his high school prom next weekend.

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The Belfast Central School District senior traveled more than an hour to the KeyBank Center for the free St. Brian Clothiers costume giveaway.

“It’s really, really nice to finally be able to do something like this,” Thayne said.

Thayne has had to move around a lot and is currently living with family friends, one of whom was able to watch and share with him his first costume shopping experience.

“He wouldn’t have had the opportunity if there weren’t programs like this that can reach out and help people,” said Sarah Haskins, a family friend.

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St. Brian Clothiers of Dewitt Lee III has donated dozens of costumes to teens in need, whether they need a new look for prom or an outfit for a job interview.

“(The suit will help me) if I get a job interview, or if I end up working somewhere, I’ll have a suit to help me,” Burgard High School senior Dominique Grandy said.

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Lee has partnered with the Buffalo Sabers to host this life-changing experience from their home arena, KeyBank Center.

“Well, it’s an absolutely overwhelming experience,” Lee said.

Lee taught students how to make safe decisions on prom night, then he and several volunteers picked out costumes alongside them.

“I thought I looked pretty good,” Thayne said.

“Oh, I think he looks great right now,” Haskins said. “When the two (costumes) he likes the most fit him, you could see him feel a sense of pride, that moment of owning it. It was really exciting and I want to give him those opportunities to do that.

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St. Brian will host another giveaway on June 2 at the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library.