Recycling Prom Dresses and Formal Wear Helps High School Kids Attend Their Proms

Anyone who has had a child in high school, one that goes to proms and formal affairs, knows how expensive these activities can be. The costs involved have become so high some families cannot afford for their daughter or son to attend. Fortunately, there are organizations and volunteers across America that collect gently used dresses, gowns, and formal attire and make them available for free to kids who otherwise might not be able to go to their proms.

In addition to the benefits of recycling, most of the organizations state that a prom or formal dance is an important milestone in a girl’s life that should not be missed due to financial constraints.

Most girls wear their formal dresses only one time or a maybe a couple of times. Donating prom dresses is something that is catching on with high school and college students. The current interest in recycling and green living is helping to raise awareness that clothing can also be recycled.

There are many websites you can visit for information on how and where to donate a dress or formal attire. Some of the organizations only recycle prom dresses, others recycle all types of formal wear for women and men. The following is a list of some organizations that help recycle formal attire.

Donate My Dress - This is the first national campaign designed to encourage girls around the country to donate their prom dresses and formal dresses. The website lists locations around the country where dress donation boutiques are held. Some of the websites below are members of the Donate My Dress organization. Visit http://www.donatemydress.org for more information.

The Glass Slipper Project – This organization is located in Chicago, Illinois and hosts several prom boutiques for high school girls in the spring. Visit – http://www.glassslipperproject.org for more information.

The Priceless Gown Project - This is a non-profit organization located in Baltimore, Maryland. It holds a shopping boutique every year and distributes hundreds of prom dresses, makeup and accessories to high school girls in the Baltimore area. Visit http://www.pricelessgownproject.org/ for more information.

The Princess Project - Located in the San Francisco Bay area. Holds prom boutiques in the spring. Visit http://www.princessproject.org

The Princess and the Prom – Located in Windsor, Connecticut. Holds an annual giveaway event that has enabled hundreds of girls to feel like a princess on their prom night. Visit http://www.princessandtheprom.org/ for more information.

The Enchanted Closet – This is a nonprofit organization located in Atlanta, Georgia. It has helped give away over 1900 formal dresses. Also, provides business attire for job interviews. Visit http://www.enchantedcloset.org/ for more information.

The Cinderella Project – Located in Albany, New York. Holds an annual prom dress boutique and gives a gift certificate for a service, such as a manicure, to each girl. Visit http://www.cinderellaproject.net for more information.

The Cinderella Project - Located in Vancouver, B.C. Holds an annual boutique day in the spring and gives out prom dresses as well formal attire for boys. Visit – http://thecinderellaproject.com/

The Ruby Room - This is a nonprofit organization located in Seattle, Washington. Holds an annual prom boutique. Visit – http://www.rubyroomseattle.org/

Fairy Godmother Project – Located in Houston, Texas. Holds an annual shopping day where high school students can receive for free prom dresses, shoes, tuxes and more. Visit – http://www.fairygodmotherproject.com/

Abby’s Closet – This is a nonprofit organization located in Portand, Oregon. It holds an annual prom giveaway boutique. Visit: http://www.abbyscloset.org/

Becca’s Closet - This is a nonprofit organization that provides formal attire and scholarship funding to deserving high school students in South Florida. In 2003, during the spring of her freshman year in high school, Becca Kirtman collected and distributed over 250 prom dresses to girls who needed them. Shortly thereafter, Becca Kirtman was

in a fatal automobile accident. In the wake of this trageday the Kirtman family decided to honor Becca’s spirit and memory by carrying on her work an created Becca’s Closet. Now there are also chapters of Becca’s Closet throughout the country. Visit – http://www.beccascloset.org/

There too many organizations throughout the United States to list them all here. If you are interested in starting your own prom and formal wear donation organization visit Becca’s Closet and request information on how to start a Becca’s Closet chapter in your community.

Article by Amy Passmore of DIY Fundraising. Visit www.diyfundraising.com for do-it-yourself fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations, clubs, schools and groups.