Teacher Helps Prom-Goers Find Their Perfect Dress In East Windsor

EAST WINDSOR, NJ — It's prom season and after two years of the pandemic, students are looking forward to letting their hair down. But between the fancy clothing, accessories and tickets, many students plan to sit this year out due to the costs.

To ensure that every student has the opportunity to attend prom, teachers at the East Windsor Regional School District have started a “prom dress giveaway.”

It all began when environmental science teacher and guidance counselor Sarah McDougall, of Hightstown High School, decided to repurpose her own prom dress. “The idea came to me two years ago. The prom dresses in my closet have sentimental value and I wanted to do something with them. But then the pandemic happened. So, I decided to revive the initiative this year,” McDougall said.

McDougall called her sister and asked other teachers at the Hightstown High School if they wanted to donate their prom dresses. And the response she received was overwhelming, with a few former students donating their dresses.

The teacher has collected close to 50 prom dresses. A room at the high school has been transformed into a prom boutique. Every day, during lunch or a free period, students come in to try on the dresses.

“If they find something they like, they take it home. They only have to pay for dry cleaning or alterations. The idea is to get more kids involved in prom,” McDougall said.

All donated dresses are in “excellent condition” and come in various colors, sizes, and styles. “Students are welcome to any dress they want and it's theirs to keep. If they want to return it, they can,” McDougall said. With a wide variety of styles and colors, students often find what they are looking for, the teacher said.

School Counselor Nicole Funaro was “excited” for the opportunity to donate her dresses to students in need. “I always wondered what I should do with such nice dresses that sat in the back of my closet after wearing them once, so it makes me very happy that someone else can enjoy the dresses too," Funaro said.

Dennis Vinson, Principal of Hightstown High School, is all praise for the initiative. “This program provides a way to repurpose dresses, be environmentally conscious as well as offer a valuable resource to those who may need it,” Vinson said in an email statement.

Through this initiative, McDougall said she’s been able to teach her students about sustainable fashion and how it's better for the environment.

Junior prom is scheduled for May 13 and senior prom for June 7 — students still have time to pick out their dresses.

The school is also accepting prom dress donations. If you have a prom dress in good condition that you’d like to donate, drop it off at the Hightstown High School security with a note.

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