Prom Dresses Needed For Students In The Caldwells

WEST CALDWELL, NJ — Every high school student who wants to attend their prom deserves to have a nice dress to wear. That’s why there’s an ambitious goal for this year’s prom dress donation drive at Essex County College’s West Caldwell campus: 100.

That’s the number of dresses that the college hopes to collect in partnership with local nonprofit Catherine’s Closet. The gowns will ultimately go to high school students in the area who find themselves without the financial ability to buy their own, college administrators said.

Since 2009, Essex County College’s West Essex campus has been a drop off site for about 700 new and slightly worn dresses.

This year, dresses – which should be placed on hangers – can be taken to the West Essex campus at 730 Bloomfield Avenue in West Caldwell between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday until Feb. 9. Catherine’s Closet will then distribute the dresses in time for prom season 2018.

For more information on the college’s drop-off site, call 973-877-6593.

According to organizers:

“Gowns must be clean, age appropriate, current, and on hangers. Designer gowns and large sizes are especially needed. Dresses that do not qualify for Catherine’s Closet are donated to local charities.”

Dennia Rentzis, the coordinator of admissions at the West Essex campus, said that she was “thrilled” to be organizing this year’s effort, the 10th year that the college has served as a drop-off site.

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Photo courtesy of Essex County College