SOMERSET -- A new nonprofit in Somerset County is helping high school girls have the confidence and style to go to homecoming and prom.
It all started just four months ago when Rebecca Miller's daughter was asked to the prom and she realized there were others less fortunate in Somerset County who need prom dresses, too.
"This is what's left of our homecoming dresses after our homecoming shop and we have sizes from zero to 24," said Miller, showing multiple clothing racks.
Rebecca Miller showed off her collection of dresses, shoes and accessories.
It’s all part of the nonprofit she started called "Dressed," hoping to help high school girls in Somerset County.
It started last year after her daughter got asked to the prom.
"And I haven't bought a prom dress since 1986,” Miller said. “So I was a bit taken aback at what they cost and started thinking about our area and the fact that there's a lot of people out of work and people struggle and how difficult it is for some families to buy a dress."
She asked her Facebook friends in mid-May if starting this organization would be a good idea.
And since then, she’s received a lot of donations.
"I've had people send me things from Florida and Texas and Colorado and a shipment of dresses that came from England. So apparently it strikes a chord and people wanted to help."
She says last weekend her organization held their first "shop" at Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ.
Forty girls came to dress up for homecoming.
"The girls would come in and they started out a little bit shy and they would come in with my wonderful, wonderful volunteers as consultants who would kind of take them and help them shop and help them try things on and match them up with some accessories,” Miller said. “And ‘til they were done, the girls were just smiles and excitement."
For just a $10, girls can get jewelry, shoes, handbags and dresses.
If a girl chooses to donate their dress after the dance, they get their $10 back. But Miller wants one thing known.
"It's not a rental. It's not a loan. It's their dress,” Miller said. “But we also highly encourage donating back because that's what keeps us going and that's what makes us be able to help girls in future years."
Miller said she didn't even go to her own senior prom, but she wants to give others the opportunity to do so.
Miller said she's getting ready for the prom season.
They'll probably have that shop in mid-March and at this point they already have 370 prom gowns.
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