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Prom night: ACO offers free, discounted dresses to students
Photo courtesy of Adela Herrod Allen Community Outreach has been giving students in need free prom dresses for five years through The Princess Project, a program that also sells dresses at discounted prices.
By Andrew Snyder, asnyder@starlocalnews.com
Prom can be an expensive rite of passage for high school students, but the nonprofit Allen Community Outreach has been collecting dress donations to ensure area students in need aren't priced out of attendance.
The Princess Project, the nonprofit's annual dress drive, will begin distributing the hundreds of dresses in its wardrobe from 6 9 p.m. Thursday at Suncreek United Methodist Church in Allen during a party complete with live music, door prizes, and complimentary makeup and style tips.
Students in need will be given a free dress, while the remainder of the dresses will be on sale for $10 and $20 depending on their age, condition and original price. All proceeds from dress sales will go toward ACO programs.
The event's inventory is made up of about 700 dresses and includes new and designer items some with the tags still on as well as vintage ones. Herrod said that some people will buy dresses for reasons other than the prom, and that some girls like the vintage look and will coordinate with their friends to dress in prom clothes from the same era.
Tuxedos will also be available, Herrod said.
We have helped boys too, she said.
Last year, the nonprofit gave away 50 dresses and provided seven students with a complete prom experience that included makeup, flowers and other accessories. Herrod said the last thing she wants is for a girl to come up to the register and be unable to afford something.
The event originated as a service for students who attend the Allen and Lovejoy school districts, but in five years it has grown to include students from Fairview, Farmersville, Wylie, McKinney, Plano and Princeton.
The event's growth caused it to move from its original location inside the ACO's resale shop to Suncreek Methodist this year.
ACO collects dresses for the drive throughout the year, but Herrod said the push really begins in January in anticipation of prom season, which begins April 6 for participating school districts and continues until May 18, when the last prom is held.
Herrod said many dresses are donated by college girls who held onto their prom dresses for a few years before giving them away. She said support also comes from local businesses, including The Village at Allen, The Village at Fairview, Allen Premium Outlets and Bridal Co.
Though the dress drive begins Thursday, dress donations will still be needed until the end of prom season, as well as donations of shoes, handbags, jewelry and other accessories. ACO is also in need of gift cards that can be used to buy makeup, nails, flowers and other accessories.
For more information on ACO, visit acocares.org.ACO offers free, discounted dresses to students
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