by RYAN SELF

Staff Writer

During prom season, the stresses of high school temporarily switch from students to parents, who must factor the cost of formalwear, dinner and a limousine rental into the family budget.

For parents of female students, the burden can be particularly heavy as prom dress prices have steadily risen to the $300-$500 range.

The Arlington Career Center recently held an event to help families of all economic backgrounds eliminate the prom dress buying crunch by offering up 75 donated formal dresses for just $5 each in the first “Formals for Five” event.

“Having girls pay $400 for a prom dress is ridiculous, no matter what the family makes,” said Eleanor Reed, coordinator for student activities at the Career Center. “The girls were thrilled – everyone was oohing and ahhing at how good they looked.”

The 75 dresses were donated by the Society of Recovering Sorority Girls, a philanthropic organization of former college sorority members.

Arlington high-schoolers came in on May 20 to view the dresses in groups of eight, and in little more than an hour the dresses were gone.

“We came in planning to be at the Career Center from 3 to 6 p.m., but we were done by 4:15,” said Washington-Lee High School social worker Donalee Brooks, who pitched in at the event. “The only difficulty the event presented was finding a venue where girls could change into the dresses, and the Career Center was a perfect fit.”

Brooks added that the school system would have happily given away the dresses, but found that by charging a nominal fee, students embraced the chance to help the community and the chance to go bargain hunting.

“Sometimes there’s a stigma when something is free,” she said.

Students at the Career Center who volunteered for the event said they were surprised to find a variety of dresses that fit current styles and trends.

“When I heard they were donated, I didn’t expect them to be so nice,” said Yorktown High School senior Michelle Gomez, who bought one of the dresses. “Dresses are just too expensive, and it was nice to do something for our peers.”

“It was rewarding to volunteer, but I wanted to check out the dresses,” added Washington-Lee senior Brenda Guzman. “Prom is important for girls.”

Proceeds from the sale were given to the In Support of Children fund, which assists needy county families with clothes and school supplies.

School officials are already looking to expand the event for next year, by calling local department stores for donations and asking current high school seniors to consider donating their formal dresses after prom.