Prom dresses being collected for girls in need

Every girl should get to go to her senior prom and feel beautiful while she's there, said Melissa Watson of Genoa.

That's why she donated three dresses from a wedding she participated in three years ago.

"They're all very age appropriate, not matronly at all," she said. "The girls who wear these dresses will look beautiful. When you go to prom, you shouldn't feel judged because you couldn't afford to be there."

Soroptimist International of Carson City is hosting its annual Operation Fairy Godmother to collect new or gently used dresses for girls to wear to Carson High School's prom on May 8.

"It's a magical night," said organizer Kim Riggs. "Every girl should feel really good about herself for a night."

The dresses collected are hung in the school nurse's office where girls can go to be discreet when choosing a gown.

Head nurse Sheila Story said they can be hesitant at first, but get into it once they start trying them on in the bathroom of the nurse's office.

"They like to come with their girlfriends," she said. "Once they go in there and start trying them on, they start giggling. They have a ball."

Riggs started the program 13 years ago as the school district's homeless advocate when she heard of a girl who was not going to prom because she couldn't afford the dress.

It has continued each year since.

Dresses that aren't selected for prom are donated to girls for eighth-grade graduation or to the high school's theater department.

"Every dress will be put to use," Riggs said.

Story said, this year she's seen more girls than ever before looking for a donated dress. Partly, she said, it's because more girls know about it, but mainly it's due to difficult economic times.

Riggs said the community has responded in kind.

"We've actually gotten more donations in an economic crunch time because I know people knew kids were going to be in need," she said. "I think it's cool that the community gets that."

Donations of dresses and accessories will be accepted through April 30 at various locations. Gift cards to JC Penney also are accepted for boys to buy their prom attire.

BKOUT

You Can Help

Drop off dresses and other items by April 30 to:

Body and Soul, 205 E. John St., 841-1155

Sugar Pine Cove (new location), 1910 College Parkway, 884-4603

Salon Chocolat, 177 W. Proctor St., 884-3667

For more information, call the high school at 283-1675.

Cost of prom:

Tickets: $55

Dinner: $50-$100

Dress: $50-$150

Corsage: $25 (Sugar Pine Cove offers a discount for students)

Photos: $35-$50