Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
A prom dress, the accessories, and the makeup can put a hurting on any teenage girl’s wallet.
Money Magazine reported that a 2015 Visa survey pegged the average cost of prom as $919.
Advertisements
Prom preparation bills can add up fast and put a strain on high schoolers and their families.
On Thursday, Harry S. Truman High School in Bristol Township hosted their second annual Prom Fair that offered dresses, beauty products, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories. The event was open for students and all the items were offered for free.
Meredith Leach, the high school’s social worker, and teacher Victoria Tangradi led the event and said it has only grown in its second year.
Advertisements
More than 150 girls came through the pop-up dress gallery in the high school’s library and ended up leaving with 100 dresses, Leach and Tangradi said.
The girls were able to try on the dresses.
Advertisements
The library’s aisles were turned into makeshift changing rooms with mirrors set up outside.
“There were girls who had tears in their eyes when they tried on a dress,” Leach said. “They just feel so beautiful.”
In addition to the students, a number of moms, sisters, and aunts showed up to see the dresses being tried on.
Advertisements
Leach explained that the shoes, accessories, and dresses – some still with tags on them – have all been donated. In many cases, a girl wears a prom dress once and then has no need for it.
It took about six weeks to pull together this year’s Prom Fair, Tangradi said, adding the unclaimed dresses will be saved for next year.
Advertisements
“The community really stepped up,” Leach said.
A number of big and small businesses stepped forward to offer support and donate items for the event. Sephora was there to offer makeup trials and Estee Lauder, which has a facility in Bristol Township, donated nine boxes of products.
Advertisements
Leading up to the prom, Lace’d Unisex Hair Salon and Flawless Cuts will be offering haircuts for students.
