Creative Kids Collecting Prom Dresses for Charity

Prom is the social event of the year for many high school students, and one area organization is making sure local girls are dressed to impress.

, a Cockeysville community center servicing families in need, collects donations of prom dresses year-round for high school girls whose families are on a tight budget.

"These days, prom gowns can cost $300 to $400," said Royce Davis, a former Creative Kids volunteer. "It's a good feeling to be able to help these girls out.

Davis, a 20-year-old student at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, conceived the idea of the prom gown collection, know as The Dress Project, alongside Jennie Fumarola, director of the center.

Four years ago, Davis, who was then a junior at approached Fumarola and spoke to her about girls at the school who were struggling to get prom dresses.

"Royce knew this need for dresses was out there," Fumarola said. "You have these girls that don't get to go the mall with friends and spend a ton of money on a dress."

But as prom season draws closer, Fumarola is asking residents to continue donating dresses so the center can help as many girls as possible. also accepts accessories and formal menswear.

Items can be dropped off at the center at 13 Hogarth Circle in Cockeysville. In some cases, a Creative Kids representative can also pick up donations from another location.

"We're taking any dresses, any sizes," Fumarola said.

So far, the center has collected more than 700 dresses.

"This year's donations have far exceeded our expectations," Fumarola said. "But we want to fit every girl with the right dress. The more the better."

The girls will choose their dresses after an April 28 fashion show event, which will run from 6 to 9 p.m. at , located at 10950 Gilroy Road. Local high school girls will serve as models and the night will also include live music from local singer Octavius J. Johnson and a game room.

Each girl will also receive the assistance of a personal shopper who will help her select the perfect dress.

Although Davis won't be around to attend the fashion show, she is still proud of how far The Dress Project has come.

"The first year we started we got about 30 dresses and many of them were old-fashioned," she said. "We have a great selection of dresses now. Its just been amazing."