Mt. Hope Helps Students Save Money with 'Prom Dress Express'

This year, every girl has the opportunity to dress to impress for the prom thanks to  counselor and Prom Dress Express coordinator, Diane Gempp.

Over the last few years, Gempp has sought out prom dress and shoe donations so that juniors and seniors don't have to take out an early college loan to experience prom. Typically, prom dresses range in price from $100 to $500. Then, add in the price for shoes, hair, nails, the tickets, fancy transportation and photographs, and you've got yourself one magical night for the price of a small wedding. 

Although Prom Dress Express has done well in previous years, this year Gempp teamed up with the marketing class at Mt. Hope to help her spread the word. The marketing class created flyers and invitations for all juniors and seniors and set up a "boutique" in the school on Tuesday for students to visit and try on dresses.

Gempp hopes that getting the marketing class involved will allow more students to take advantage of the opportunity to get a free prom dress and shoes. During the lunch period "boutique" opening on Tuesday, seven students successfully found the perfect dress and five students found the perfect matching shoes. For free.

"If students don't find anything they want here, we also have vouchers that were donated by Anita Randall for the Stone Soup thrift store in Bristol," Gempp said. "The voucher is good for anything they need for prom."

According to Gempp, the school received about 70 used and brand new prom dresses. Some dresses still had the price tags on them. But Gempp says the Prom Dress Express is always open to more donations. Anyone interested in donating dresses, prom shoes or even money for students who may not be able to afford a prom ticket, may drop off donations at the school.