Community Pathways launches Prom Drive

If you have any formal dresses collecting dust in the closest, Community Pathways of Steele County has the perfect solution.

The nonprofit organization has launched a Prom Drive in which organizers are hoping people will donate any old prom dresses over the next month in time for this spring’s area proms. Formal wear will be taken until March 10 and distributed to clients for no charge on March 11, according to Dakota Krause, coordinator of Unique Finds, a division of Community Pathways.

This is the second year Community Pathways has conducted a Prom Drive. Last year’s drive was “a big success” with about 100 prom dresses distributed to teenage girls, Krause said.

Community Pathways has a small rack of dresses leftover from last year, but it hopes to add more racks of dresses by the end of the drive.

“Any prom or formal attire is what we’re looking for,” she said. She noted the dresses should be new or gently used and any colors will be accepted.

Last year’s drive was bolstered by a large donation of dresses from an Owatonna bridal store. “This year we’re appealing to individuals that have a single dress of two at home,” Krause said.

As for families with teenage girls needing a dress, Robin Starr, who serves as community navigator for Community Pathways, said there should be no shame involved. “We make sure they are clean and no rips on them,” she said.

With formal dresses averaging $350 or more, it can be cost prohibitive for some young girls to attend prom, Krause said. “It’s not feasible for our clients to buy new dresses,” she said.

Krause recalls seeing the faces of girls light up last year when their dream of going to prom was realized through obtaining a dress from Community Pathways. “We had some tell us, ‘I didn’t think prom was doable until I got a dress,’” said Krause, adding one girl became so emotional she was crying when she received a dress.

This is the only time of the year that Community Pathways accepts prom dresses, according to Krause. And, she points out, many people simply aren’t aware of where prom dresses can be donated.

“It’s pretty much check your closets,” Krause said, adding Community Pathways will take care of the rest after the donation is made.

The need for services from Community Pathways, Krause said, has grown significantly over the past year. The clothing portion served about 500 families per week last year and it has grown to 700 this year, she said. In all, nearly 7,000 households utilized Community Finds in 2022.

Community Pathways will accept donations Monday-Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Dresses will be distributed on Saturday, March 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“This will be a free event for clients. They can come with their daughters and try on prom dresses,” said Krause, adding the dresses will be given to them for no charge.