EAST MACHIAS, Maine — National Honor Society students at Washington Academy are once again collecting prom dresses to be given away.
The dresses, along with shoes and accessories, will be available free at a boutique event in the school cafeteria 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 9, according to teacher Mathy Terrill.
“We have a lot of quality dresses this year,” she said Wednesday. Students collected and gave away dresses last year for the first time and decided to make it an annual event.
Terrill hopes the free dresses will make prom more affordable for some families.
“Prom is super expensive, and there are some girls whose families choose between letting them go to prom and paying a bill,” she said. Not having to buy a dress eases some of the burden.
Honor society students have collected 106 dresses during the past three weeks, she said. They also had about 60 or 70 dresses left over from last year.
Students also have been given donations of shoes and accessories such as purses and costume jewelry, Terrill said. These also will be available for free.
In addition, the event will feature a seamstress working on site to make alterations to dresses. Hair and makeup specialists will offer free tips to young clients for prom nights, which take place in April or May. Free raffles will be held for prizes donated by local businesses, Terrill said.
Anyone who wishes to donate a dress or accessory can do so up until the day of the event. Drop it off at the front desk at the school, 66 Cutler Road, or email Terrill at m.terrill@raider4life.org for information.