The Cinderella Project of Pasco is collecting prom-style dresses for girls who might not have a budget for prom.
The organization has 1,200 to 1,500 dresses available and hopes to help hundreds of girls in the upcoming weekends. It takes dozens of volunteers to make it happen.
“All the volunteers that come out and help, set up the gowns, arrange them, by size, by color, help me wrap them when it’s over, help them move, it couldn’t happen without the whole community pitching in,” said organizer Julie Rockwell.
The Cinderella Project also provides shoes, jewelry and other accessories to help the girls have a perfect prom. Everything is free for the students.
Rockwell said it’s important to provide all girls the same opportunities to have a memorable prom.
“If a family is in need, a girl would have to miss her prom because of that,” Rockwell said. “That’s why this is so important, because that’s such an important day.”
The organization will host various Cinderella Boutiques in the upcoming weekends. The first two boutiques are Saturday, Feb 27 and Saturday, March 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 3104 Town Ave in New Port Richey, at the Longleaf Town Center, next to Havana Dreamers Café.
The last boutique will be Saturday, March 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Youth and Family Alternatives Building, 38022 River Road in Dade City. This year is the first year the organization has held a boutique on the east side of Pasco.
The organization will still accept donations, and they have a need for larger-sized dresses and shoes. Donations can be dropped off at Raymond James, 9040 Tryfon Blvd, Suite A-104, at the corner of Little Road and Trinity Boulevard in the Trinity Town Center.
Also, donations can be dropped off at Maria’s Bridal Connection at 9332 Little Road in New Port Richey. The business is offering those who bring in a gown to donate up to $75 off when purchasing a new gown.
For more information, check out their Facebook page.