JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tennessee — The cost of most everything has gone up over the last decade, including prom dresses. Cinderella's Closet of East Tennessee, a community program in Jefferson County, is easing the financial burden of buying prom dresses. Cinderella's Closet has served East Tennessee for around ten years.
The community outreach program gives free formal dresses to girls for prom.
The dresses are donated by individuals and companies. The sizes range from size double-zero to 28.
"We just don't have old ones," said Rona Farley, the executive director of Cinderella's Closet. "We have brand new ones. And they're gorgeous dresses."
Farley says Cinderella's Closet gave out 4,385 dresses from 2014 to 2023. She said this year, she expects to reach more than 5,000 dresses given away.
"It has completely grown up to the hundreds every year. It varies every year. My total is over 3,000 dresses given away, that's me. And then we've had other fairy godmothers here that have given things away too," she said.
Farley said the cost of prom dresses has risen each year.
"I've seen some of the dresses donated that they didn't get to wear for proms and they got donated in here," said Farley. "I can't even fathom $500, $600, $700 for a prom dress."
But she said she's happy to take away some of the stress from girls hoping to attend prom.
"I love it. This is the favorite part. And I wish more of the congregation could actually feel the love given out by the girls' smiles when they get a dress," she said.
In honor of the tenth anniversary of Cinderella's Closet, Farley organized a photo shoot with Jefferson County High School students. Some of the girls who participated even found their perfect prom dresses.
"It was actually a relief because I was looking online for formal prom dresses," said Allison Sayers, a senior. "And I couldn't find any that I liked that were like, floral, and had flowers on it. And I found one here that was perfect. Love coral and it has pink coral on it. And it's really pretty."
Sayers even found shoes to take with her to wear for prom. Another student who found a dress said other girls should come out and see if they find something they like.
"I would say give it a chance that you're not losing anything and it's an amazing experience," said Jaymi Norton, a junior. "I am so excited. Like, I'm ecstatic. I didn't think I was gonna find one and I did."
Norton says the process was easy.
"So you come in and you write your name and where you're from," said Norton. "And then they'll do a tape measure on you and get your size. And then one individual come and look through dresses for you. They ask you what your style is what you like, all that stuff."
Cinderella's Closet of East Tennessee said it serves all girls across East Tennessee. Farley says as long as you're able to try on and pick up your dress, you qualify. If you would like to set up an appointment to look at dresses or to volunteer, you can call 865-287-5118.