It's prom season in the Treasure Valley and there is no doubt the money families spend for the dance adds up quick. One local nonprofit is helping make prom much more affordable for Ada County high school students.
From polka dots to sparkles, there's a little of everything in Cinderella's Closet.
"It was hard looking at the dresses because there are so many! When you're put with that many, it's hard to choose," said Gabrielle Hennager, a senior at Meridian High School.
350 dresses and more than 100 tuxedos are available for rent to all Ada County high school students.
"The girls come in and they go 'oh my gosh,' and the parents get so excited when they find out it's only $15," said Linda McCarthy, Cinderella's Closet Chair.
Just $15 for a prom dress or a full tux.
"And they don't have to get it dry cleaned! That's what we do with the $15, we use it for dry cleaning," McCarthy continued.
Cinderella's Closet is just one of many programs Assistance League of Boise offers to Ada County. The nonprofit is run completely by volunteers. Each spring, a room near the Assistance League's thrift shop on Glenwood is transformed and filled with donated dresses in all sizes and colors. The volunteers, like fairy godmothers, help each student pick something out.
"We like for them to come out of the dressing room and show it to us so we can see too," McCarthy said.
"All of the dresses I've worn in the past, I've only worn them once. I've never really worn them again. So I figured why not rent a dress this time, that way I don't have to worry about it wasting space in the closet," said Kayla Hawkins, a senior at Compass Honors High School.
"I had a lot of fun just looking for a dress and trying on all the ones I thought were really nice. It was a really great experience," Hawkins added.
Students just need to show their student ID card and return the dress or tuxedo by the Wednesday after their dance.
"It's a lot cheaper. I mean where can you find a dress, some of them are even brand new, or a full tuxedo, except for shoes, for $15? It's a great deal for high school students and it doesn't depend on your income or anything like that. It's open to all students in Ada County," McCarthy said.
Cinderella's Closet is only open a couple of more days. Thursday, April 20th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 22nd from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
It's located at 5825 North Glenwood Street in Garden City, across the street from Memorial Stadium.
If you would like to donate a dress, the Assistance League will accept donations year round. For more information, visit www.assistanceleague.org/boise.
