Free prom dress giveaway aims to ease financial strain for Nashville families

Описание: With inflation continuing to stretch household budgets — and some families still recovering from recent winter storms — prom season can bring added financial pressure.

The cost of a prom dress alone can run hundreds of dollars. For some students, that price tag can mean missing out altogether.

A nonprofit organization is stepping in to help.

Couture Cares is hosting its “Her Prom Closet” event in Nashville, offering free prom dresses to high school juniors and seniors. The one-day giveaway is designed to remove at least one major expense for families navigating tough economic times.

“Prom is very expensive, and if we can provide the dresses for them, I know that that would take a major burden and uplift off of these parents and young ladies,” said Davina Jones, founder of Couture Cares.
Jones started the initiative years ago in Memphis with just 25 students. Since then, the event has expanded, serving hundreds of young women in multiple cities.

According to organizers, more than 90 percent of the dresses available are brand new — some still with tags attached — and valued between $500 and $1,000. Dresses are collected through community drives, boutique donations, and partnerships with local businesses.

The experience is designed to feel like a real boutique setting. Organizers transform the venue into a prom shop where students can browse, try on gowns, and officially “say yes to the dress.” In addition to a free gown, students will receive a garment bag, swag bag, lunch, accessories, and opportunities to win gift card giveaways throughout the day.

MNPS Board Member Cheryl Mayes says the event comes at a critical time.

“In the economy that we’re living in, we have students who may not be able to afford the cost of a prom dress, and parents who want to send their children to prom but may not necessarily have the funds to make it happen,” Mayes said.

Organizers say the event is open to all eligible students, regardless of income level.

“We don’t discriminate on what your circumstances are,” Jones said. “We just want to be a blessing.”

Businesses or community members who would like to donate dresses can drop off items Friday at 4 p.m. at the Martin Professional Development Center while organizers prepare for Saturday’s event.

Organizers say whether they serve one student or one hundred, the goal remains the same: making sure cost is not the reason a young person misses out on prom night.

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