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WESTPORT, Conn. Dont let those old prom, party or bridesmaid dresses collect dust in the closet. Instead, bring them to the Westport Weston Family Y this week and help make prom a reality for a needy teen girl.
Through Saturday, the Y is collecting dresses for Princess and the Prom, a Connecticut nonprofit that provides free prom dresses to high school girls who might not have otherwise been able to afford one.
They called us up, and we were delighted to help, said Scott Smith, communications director at the Y. We are a community center. We knew if we asked our members to contribute that the response would be favorable. And in true form, our members have overwhelmed us.
Smith estimates that at least a dozen dresses have been donated so far. The center has even received shoe donations, he said.
Meg George, the Ys new director of Camp and Youth Programs, said this donation drive is a great opportunity to help others while clearing up closet space.
Prom is a big part of high school and for girls, its all about the dress, George said. This gives people a chance to give new life to a dress thats been pushed to the back of their closet, and to someone who will get to enjoy it.
Princess and the Prom was founded in 2007 by then-Granby high school student Lauren Podgorski and her mom Cheryle. Since then, the program has helped more than 2,000 girls get free prom dresses, according to the nonprofits official website.
If you have a dress, shoes or accessories youd like to donate, stop by the membership desk at the Y. George said anyone in the community can donate a dress, not just Y members.
For more information, visit the Princess and the Prom online.
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