There were a lot of excited teens and parents at Sunnyside Mall in Bedford on Saturday for the Dress Drive for Prom event.
Nearly 300 dresses, of all sizes and designs, were up for grabs. All of the dresses were ‘previously-loved’ and donated by the community.
“I knew what I was looking for, I went in looking for a long, blue dress and I seen a few of them in there,” said Cheyenne Cole, clutching her new prom dress.
Besides the selection, the cost for a prom dress was set at just $25, a big selling point for many who attended the sale.
“I seen another one in a store and it was like $300 and this one was only $25,” said Cole.
The dress drive event is put on by Mother’s Against Drunk Driving. The purpose is to provide all girls the opportunity to attend prom, even if they don’t think it is affordable.
“It’s a big event in a girls life, it’s a big deal for them and we’re happy to help them out and make it affordable so they can have a real special night out of it,” said John McLeod, President, MADD, Halifax Chapter.
This is the second year the dress drive has been held. The lineup to get into the sale started nearly three hours before the doors even opened, with everyone hoping to score the perfect gown for their big night.
The turnout has been so overwhelming, organizers have decided to make it an annual event going forward.
“We’re so excited about it that we want to do it every year from now on,” said Jessie Lawrence, Sunnyside Mall.
“It feels so good to see these girls prom dreams come true. Not everyone can afford a dress, especially when their 5, 6, 7, $800 and that’s just not feasible for a lot of families.”
All of the proceeds from the dress drive go to MADD. Besides the extra funding, the event is a good chance for volunteers to remind teens not to get into a vehicle with someone who is impaired this prom season.
“It’s supposed to be a special time in their lives not a sad one, so we hope they make the right choices,” said McLeod.
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