Dancing dreams

Help fill the Plano Prom Closet with 4,000 dresses for deserving teens

Last year's gala gown could be this year's prom dress.

Photo courtesy of Prom Closet

A Plano event is poised to make prom dress dreams come true for the 15th year. The 2024 Prom Closet at St. Andrew Methodist Church will open its doors in late February to distribute thousands of formal gowns, accessories, and shoes to deserving teens - free of charge.

But first, they need the merchandise.

Organizers are now accepting donations of dresses (sizes 0-30), jewelry, shoes, handbags, and wraps. Items should be cleaned and as "like new" as if they were being taken to a picky consignment store for resale.

Donations may be dropped off just inside the north entry of St. Andrew, 1401 Mira Vista Blvd., Plano, on a designated dress rack. Drop-off days and times are 8:30 am-8:30 pm Monday-Thursday, 9 am-4 pm Saturday, and 9 am-12 pm Sunday. (For the north entrance, they say, look for the covered walkway and sign on the building.)

An Amazon wish list is available here for anyone who would like to help by purchasing items, which will be shipped directly to the church. They expect to make about 4,000 gowns available for distribution.

In addition, online registration (for shoppers and volunteers) opens Monday, January 22.

Plano Prom Closet Volunteers act as personal shopping assistants for each girl.Photo courtesy of Prom Closet

A service of the Women of St. Andrew Methodist Church, Prom Closet allows teens the chance to "shop for" free dresses, shoes, and accessories in a boutique-style setting, complete with a (volunteer) personal shopper. The event has grown from assisting 35 teen girls when it started in 2009, to 1,060 in 2023, organizers say.

And they're not just from the Dallas area: "Over the years, Prom Closet has welcomed girls from across Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma as well as exchange students from Germany, Poland, Switzerland, and Thailand," organizers say in a release.

The 2024 shopping event will take place February 20-22 & 24, and February 26- March 2.

It is open to any high school girl from anywhere, no questions asked, but shoppers must register online to book an appointment. There are 35 shopping slots per each 90-minute time frame. A few rules:

Shopping is by appointment only.
Each student must be present to shop for her own dress.
Each shopper is allowed to bring along just one guest, age 16 or older.

Additionally, volunteers for the shopping days must register online, be 18 years or older, and complete a background check.

Plano Prom Closet The Prom Closet is set up as boutique filled with thousands of dresses and accessories.Photo courtesy of Prom Closet

Prom Closet was created in 2009 to provide a unique shopping experience for young ladies for whom going to prom was financially out of reach.

“Not only is the need great, but the impact the dress makes on the girl and her family is immeasurable," says founder Devra Helffrich. "Each volunteer strives to provide an uplifting experience for the young ladies letting them know they are loved, and they are beautiful. There are countless beautiful and emotional stories of girls and their families who have received prom dresses and accessories.”

Visit the event's website, email promcloset@standrewmethodist.org, or call 469-385-1810 for more information.

charity families shopping

Prom Closet

Biggest prom dress drive in DFW begins collecting donations for 2026

Photo courtesy of Prom Closet

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The 17th annual St. Andrew Prom Closet at St. Andrew Methodist Church in Plano will invite teens to "shop" for their dream dresses in February. But first they need those dresses.

Organizers have begun accepting donations of formal dresses (sizes 0-30), jewelry, shoes, handbags, and wraps. They'd like to offer thousands of dress options for teens to take home at no cost.

“We’re calling on our community to help make prom dreams come true by donating dresses and accessories,” says Kathy Moore, organizer of the event, in a release. “Start the New Year by cleaning out your closet and bringing us your gently used dresses, shoes, jewelry, and handbags."

New items can also be purchased through their Amazon Shopping Link.

"Each year, we rely on the generosity of individuals, local groups, and businesses to make every girl’s experience truly magical,” she says.

Items should be cleaned and "like new" (as if they were being taken to a picky resale store).

They may be dropped off at St. Andrew, 1401 Mira Vista Blvd., Plano, just inside the church’s north entry doors, on a designated dress rack. Drop-off hours are 8:30 am-8:30 pm Monday-Thursday and 9 am-12 noon Saturday.

Prom Closet 2025 Prom Closet is set up like a boutique, with thousands of gowns and accessories. Photo courtesy of Prom Closet

Volunteers needed
In addition to needing donations, organizers also need hundreds of volunteers to help run Prom Closet, from check-in and check-out, to personal shoppers, dressing room assistants, and set-up and tear-down crew members. Volunteers must be adults and must complete a background check. Sign up here beginning January 26.

The event has grown from assisting 35 teen girls when it started in 2009 to 1,323 girls from 322 schools and 110 school districts last year. The girls come from all over Texas and as far away as Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, and exchange students from France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, and Thailand.

Shopping details
The 2026 shopping event will take place February 24-28 and March 2-5 & 7 at St. Andrew Methodist Church.

It is open to any high school girl from anywhere, no questions asked, but shoppers must register online beginning January 26 to book an appointment. There are 40 shopping slots per each 90-minute time frame. A few rules:

Shopping is by appointment only.
Each student must be present to shop for her own dress and accessories.
Each shopper is allowed to bring along just one guest, age 16 or older.

"For the St. Andrew Methodist Women, the Prom Closet truly is a year-round labor of love,” says the Rev. Arthur Jones, senior pastor of St. Andrew. “What began as a small outreach has grown into a remarkable ministry that blesses more than 1,300 young women and their families each year. The dedication of these women — and the many volunteers who join them — goes far beyond organizing dresses. They create an environment where every girl feels loved, valued, and beautiful."

Visit the event's website, call the Prom Closet informational hotline at 469-385-1810, or email standrewpromcloset@gmail.com for more information about donations, volunteering, shopping, and more.