Nearly 100 Prom Dresses Collected For Murrieta Mesa HS Donation Event

MURRIETA, CA — On Wednesday students in need from across Southwest Riverside County can shop for a prom dress or suit in exchange for a mere canned food item thanks to generous donations orchestrated by the Murrieta Mesa High School Girls Soccer program, Patch has learned.

The "Say 'Yes' to the Dress" Prom shopping event is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Murrieta Mesa High School Ram's Den, located at 24801 Monroe Avenue in Murrieta.

As of Tuesday, organizer Marci Lipp — MMHS Girls Soccer JV Coach — and her group of volunteers have collected around 100 prom dresses and a handful of men's suits to share with high school students in need during the expensive prom season., she said.

In late March, Lipp found two "practically new" prom dresses hanging right at prom season. She told Patch she posted them for free to anyone who needed one over a Facebook group.

"With all of the costs associated with prom, from tickets to transportation, gowns and flowers, it seemed like the right thing to do," she told Patch. Instead, Lipp received offers for more dresses to give away along with volunteers offering to help collect them.

Head soccer coach Kevin Koptieff, Athletic Director John Broussard and Principal Scott Richards of Murrieta Mesa High School all threw in their support for the event, and the "Say 'Yes' To The Dress" prom dress giveaway was born.

Lipp has since amassed a team of six committee members who've gone out collecting donated attire in a wide array of styles and sizes and even a handful of suits for young men, Lipp said.

Their plan is to create as much of a "shopping" experience as possible for the students. Volunteers are arranging gowns by size as more continue to arrive before the grand opening.

Students who want to try and find a gown or suit can line up before 6 p.m.

She suggested that when you go, arrive wearing a tank top and shorts or stretch pants so you can try gowns on over your clothes.

If you find a dress you love, you can try it on in the available bathroom, she said. A full-length mirror will be available in the Ram's Den, the team room set aside for the event. The price? Exchange one canned good or non-perishable food item for donation to the Community Mission of Hope's food bank.

It has taken a village to get this far.

As volunteer moms drive around town, their SUVs are bursting with prom dresses ready to be delivered to the high school.

On Tuesday, Abigail Stout, a volunteer mom, collected an armful of dresses from another parent and heard a story that brought her to tears.

"You guys," she told the prom dress committee in a text message, "I just had five beautiful dresses dropped off by one of my mom-friends who thanked us for putting this on. She said that this is super special to her because when she was going up, she missed out on her prom because her family could not afford a dress."

Addressing a similar need was the whole idea for mothers Lipp, Stout and the rest of the committee: Monique Wang, Debbie Hocking, Mindy Olson, Stacy Nunez and Aryn Tollison.

"I am so excited to be a part of such an amazing and exciting event," Hocking said. "This will be a perfect chance for the students of Murrieta to make a memory that will last a lifetime."

They have received a bevy of school support from head soccer coach Kevin Koptieff, the Athletic Director and the School Principal. The group brought on the location within the school, and the committee determined that anyone who participated should bring something to give to the Community Mission Of Hope food bank.

Koptieff spoke on the girls soccer team, helping volunteer at the community event.

"Our goal this year was to be more involved with community outreach," Koptieff said. "Coach Marci Lipp has done an amazing job to create and organize something very special."

Parents and volunteers from the soccer program have worked hard to make the prom dress giveaway happen, organizing and sorting the silk, lace and sequined garments.

As the dresses and formal wear piled up, Lipp described the haul.

"Many dresses are new or barely worn," she said. "Though not many suits have been donated, most boys will likely rent formal attire, rather than need to purchase a new dress.

A new sequined gown purchased at David's Bridal could run upwards of $300, a price not every family can comfortably afford.

With the wide variety of prom dresses they've amassed, Lipp said she felt something was there for everyone in need. She admitted being near speechless at the outpouring of gifts from the community.

"Who knew me sharing Becca's two dresses one day on the Murrieta Exchange would turn into this event," she said. "If we can help just one person, it will all be worth it."

Let us know if you go in the comments.

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