GREENFIELD — Franklin County Pride is teaming up with the YMCA to host its first-ever Pride Prom for Franklin County LGBTQ students in grades nine through 12.

The prom will be held on Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. at Franklin County’s YMCA and is free to attend. It will feature a DJ, food donated by the Greenfield pizza restaurant Magpie, and desserts donated by Sweet Lucy’s Bakeshop in Bernardston.

Franklin County Pride President Heather Mahoney said the event is a “passion project” she has been planning to host for years.

“Our kids in the LGBTQIA community need an event, a prom, for themselves,” Mahoney said, “just so that they can go someplace and feel completely comfortable and authentic, to feel like they’re not being judged and able to have a good time, and able to have a prom like all the other kids in the world have proms.”

Although Mahoney said there have been only 10 to 12 confirmed attending students on the prom’s Eventbrite page, she said she is unsure how may kids will attend the event on Saturday, as no RSVP is required and the free event is open to all students in Franklin County.

“We’re not turning anybody away, so if a kid decides on Saturday at noon that they want to come, fabulous. We’d love to see everybody at the prom on Saturday,” Mahoney said. “I’m hoping for 20 kids at least.”

Greenfield High School teacher Angela Mass opened her “prom closet” at the school on Wednesday evening, allowing students to pick out donated prom attire at no cost.

Mahoney said she hopes to turn Pride Prom into an annual event.

“A friend of mine, when it was announced, sent me a message and said, ‘My kid and for their friends are so excited about this.’ They’re talking about it like every other kid talks about prom — they’re talking about what they’re going to wear, they’re talking about where they’re going to take pictures. That just makes my heart happy, it’s exactly what I wanted the event to be,” she said. “I just want kids to come, have a good time and enjoy the prom experience.”

View the event page at franklincountypride.org/events/queer-youth-prom.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.