Published on May 14th, 2015 | It’s prom season, and no one’s giving any thought to the fact that all of the guys who show up are wearing used clothes. Renting a tuxedo is part of the experience for high school boys; the girls, however, generally go shopping and lay out several hundred dollars for a dress they’ll wear once. True, they probably won’t end up in landfills, but this still strikes me as an inefficient use of resources… especially when there are plenty of young ladies out there that would love to get their hands on a used dress for cheap or free. Remember Pretty in Pink? I got thinking about this topic after reading about Becky Hayden, a high school math teacher in Thousand Oaks, California, who runs her own “lending library” for prom dresses. In her nine years of offering this service, Hayden’s collected around 300 dresses, but always has need for more. And even though she allows students from schools other than her own Moorpark High School to borrow dresses, she’s still running a pretty localized effort.

So, I got to digging around for places to which readers could donate prom dresses in their own communities, and found there are a number of organizations that have spread out to multiple locations. Here’s what I found for donating a dress, or picking one up for free (or close to it) – if you know of other organizations offering such a service, let us know about them in the comments. Fairy Godmothers, Inc.: With six locations around the US (mostly in the East), Fairy Godmothers, Inc., exists to “help provide a special high school prom experience for qualified high school girls whose financial situations are such as otherwise would preclude their ability to attend…” In addition to dresses, the organization also provides shoes and accessories. Becca’s Closet: Before she died in a car accident at the age of 16, Rebecca Kirtman had started a “dress drive” to collect dresses and accessories for fellow students who couldn’t otherwise afford them. Becca’s efforts live on in the organization that bears her name: their are chapters all over the country.

Each chapter handles its own donations and distribution. Operation Prom: This multi-state organization not only collects dresses and accessories for girls wanting to attend prom, but also helps out guys in financial need with the cost of tuxedo rental (which can be pricey, too). Laptop Monthly Payments CanadaTake a look at some of the kids they’ve helped:Formal Dress Shirts With Patterned Back Project G.L.A.M.: A project of international non-profit WGIRLS, Project G.L.A.M. provides prom dresses as a part of its broader mission to “provide underprivileged women and children with the support and resources necessary to achieve health, happiness, and the ability to lead productive and successful adult lives.”Patio Furniture Michigan City

Cindarella’s Closet: Started as a project of Immanuel United Methodist Church in Lakeside Park, KY, and now run through churches in a number of states, Cinderella’s Closet focuses on providing more than a dress: “From the moment our princesses dance through our doors they are greeted with an environment of grace, love and respect.  It is our mission that they leave knowing they are cherished.” Get on the list Get on the list! Be in the know! We are also onJasira Stephens, 17 (center) who attends the Baccalaureate School for Global Education in Astoria, shows off her find of a brand new Oscar de la Renta designer dress. Nearly 3,000 teenage girls from low-income families had their pick of more than 5,000 free prom dresses at a gown giveaway in Manhattan Saturday.The young women from across New York City participated in Project Granting Lasting Memories - or GLAM - which provides new or gently used dresses to promgoers."There are a lot of girls in need in Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs.

There's a need, and we're here to fill it," said Amy Heller, head of WGIRLS NYC, which organized the event."I love how beautiful it is," said Amber Linton, 14, a student at the School of Democracy and Leadership in Brooklyn, who found the perfect blue ball gown."That's what I was looking for," she said. "I wanted to stand out."Neyda Morales, 17, of the East Brooklyn Congregation High School, spent three hours searching for just the right dress."I love the dress that I found," Morales gushed after trying on a short blue dress with sparkles on the front."It's the color that I wanted. At first I didn't think I was going to like it, but once I tried it on, I did," she said.Maddie Montesdeoca, 17, a student at the High School of American Studies in the Bronx, narrowed her search to two garments by late afternoon - a classic beige gown and a purple dress with rhinestones."Senior year has a lot of expenses, so not having to pay for a prom dress is great," she said. Tom’s is the prom dress capital in Binghamton, NY.

We offer a wide selection of beautiful prom gowns. With over 400 gorgeous dresses in stock, you are sure to find something you’ll love! We have the finest selection of dresses in the area and can help you find the perfect dress for your special night. We register all dresses for your school so no one will show up in the same dress as you! Make sure you find the perfect dress by coming to Tom’s. We are conveniently located at 184 Main Street in Binghamton, NY. Our Hours are Monday thru Saturday 9am to 9pm and Sunday 11-5. Call us today at (607) 773-8500.The requested URL /index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=440&cntnt01returnid=16 was not found on this server.MIAMI (CBSMiami) – This time of the year, young girls across the nation are thinking about their upcoming proms and what they’ll wear but not all of them can afford that perfect dress. Programs across the country are helping out. Racks of dresses hold so much promise for high school senior Andrea Maldonado.

“I just want to stand out from everybody else and look unique in my own dress,” said Maldonado. She’s attending her senior prom at the end of May, but buying a fancy dress was out of the question. Her mother struggles to raise five children by herself. “I never want them to feel like they’re – that they can’t have what other children have… be it a simple dress. Tuxedo…shoes…it’s hard,” said Maldonado’s mother Eda Ulloa. In a chilly warehouse in Staten Island, New York, all the dresses are free to girls who need them. Dennis McKeon started the non-profit organization Where to Turn after 9/11 to help victim’s families with their needs, including prom dresses. “The prom is a rite of passage, right. Nobody should be denied the right to go to their prom just because they can’t afford to buy a dress,” said McKeon. The organization gets donations of three to five hundred dresses every year. They vary in size and length so every girl can find their perfect dress.