Dress Drives

One great way to give back this prom is to get involved with a dress drive. Getting outfitted for prom can be a huge pressure for lower-income teens, so instead of raising money, dress drives raise gowns and accessories, so that students from less-advantaged backgrounds can get a formal outfit for free, and share in the fun and excitement of prom.

Donating your old gown

Find a dress drive project near you through the Princess Project or Donate My Dress.
Check your gown against their guidelines. Dresses should be modern, dry-cleaned, and in great condition. You wouldn’t want a dress that was torn or stained, so don’t donate unless it’s in good shape!
Drop off your gown at one of their designated donation sites.

If there’s no chapter nearby, why not start your own? It’s easy to host a local dress drive event, and then send your donations on to a bigger organization to distribute.

Hosting your own drive

Decide a place and time. Most organizations like donations to be in well before prom season starts, so check their guidelines for the best date. Your house, or a school venue could work for the drop-off point – just make sure there’s enough space to keep things organized.
Let people know about the event. Print flyers, set up a facebook page, and make sure everyone knows the details and donation rules. The more people who know, the more dresses you’ll get!
Make it a party! Doing good doesn’t have to be dull – some music, snacks, and your friends can all make it a quick afternoon’s work, so recruit a team to help out.
Stay organized. Log all donations in a file with descriptions, and details of who donated. Give out receipts to donors (along with thanks, and maybe some candy).
Have fun!

Resources

The Princess Project – California Bay Area dress drives.

Donate My Dress – a nation-wide network of organizations, sponsored by Seventeen magazine. Find your local chapter here.

The Cinderella Project – New York Capital region organization.

The Princess Closet – Chicago-based dress project.