If you go ...
• WHAT: Prom for Pennies; sale of donated formal dresses
• WHERE: Monroe Theatre Guild, 910 16th Ave.
• WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday
• BENEFICIARY: 100 percent of the money raised this year goes toward Jacob's SWAG (Support With Awareness and Giving), a suicide awareness and anti-bullying campaign.
MONROE - This spring will be Christina Tuttle's last prom, so when it comes to her dress she's not holding back.
"I'm going poofy - hopefully with sparkles, something pink," said the Monroe High School senior.
And she'll have plenty to pick from when she enters the annual Prom for Pennies donated-dress sale Sunday at the Monroe Theatre Guild, where an all-time high of as many as 350 dresses will be on display. That's a big jump from last year's 140.
"It's so fun seeing all the different styles and all the different colors - and you can afford them all," said Tuttle, who will be shopping at the event for the third straight year. "That makes it all so less stressful."
Indeed, dresses that range between $300 and $800 can be had for $5 to $40, according to Erin Gellings, the MHS senior who has worked with the program since its inception four years ago and has served as chairwoman the past three years.
Bridesmaid dresses are common hand-me-downs, as are the very prom dresses bought at the event, as they are often re-donated back into the system. The result is an inventory large enough to cover most everyone.
"Prom is so special. It's the one night you can feel like a Disney princess," said Gellings, who gave schoolmates a sneak peak at some of the dresses by displaying them in the school library last week.
You can also feel like a Disney animal character on its wedding night, considering how among this year's offerings there's a dress with a zebra-print bust with a hot-pink sash, lots of shimmering toward the bottom, followed by a 2-foot train.
"We'll see if someone is daring enough for that one," Gellings said. "We had a couple of girls who competed in pageants donate dresses this year, so you'll see some fun stuff. There will also be some Cinderella dresses with meshing."
Not all the selection will be of the over-the-top variety. Julie Ula, who attended Monroe's prom in 2001 and 2002 and now owns Julie's Bridal Gallery here in town, has donated brand-new dresses each year including five this time around.
"Yes, I've donated some dresses with some bling, but also some straight dresses," she said. "I like to make sure I'm giving them the styles girls are looking for each year."
Ula knows how special the big dance is.
"I'll always remember my prom nights," she said. "Each and every girl should get to go, and this makes that possible. Besides, there aren't too many occasions around here when you can get all dressed up. So everyone should go for it."
Making prom an equal opportunity event was the impetus behind the idea of Prom for Pennies, as the financial pressure of buying a dress drove some kids away.
"You would hear girls talking in the hallways at school about how expensive it is, and that would be the reason they wouldn't go," Gellings said. "We wanted to make sure the prom was for more than those who could afford it."
Gellings said an outgoing senior four years ago came up with the idea after reading about a dress drive, and she and others just ran with it.
New or slightly-used dresses are sought, and each year all the proceeds go toward a local charity. This year's event supports a suicide-awareness program, Jacob's SWAG, initiated by a local family touched by tragedy.
"I like the fact the money stays in town," Ula said.
With the event well established, Gellings said there is absolutely no stigma attached with buying a dress from Prom for Pennies.
"Everyone knows it's for a good cause and it's all about having fun," she said. "No one thinks anything more of it."
The result is so many girls feeling good about themselves, something that warms the heart of longtime MHS guidance counselor Laurie Plourde. She knows the importance of a sense of belonging for teenagers.
"Anytime you can fit in with a group, that's great," Plourde said. "Looking the part is a positive thing."
She praised Gellings for her dedication.
"When you look at what Erin has done, it's just unbelievable," Plourde said. "I hope she realizes what a difference she's making for so many students."
Now that all the hard work is over for her final time, Gellings said she is looking forward to her favorite part of the event - the people watching. Tuttle will be among those she keeps an eye on.
"I just love to watch the dresses the girls pick out, and who gets what," she said. "They are a reflection of their personality. I know Christina well - she's a lot of fun - so I can't wait to see what she chooses."
"I'm going poofy - hopefully with sparkles, something pink," said the Monroe High School senior.
And she'll have plenty to pick from when she enters the annual Prom for Pennies donated-dress sale Sunday at the Monroe Theatre Guild, where an all-time high of as many as 350 dresses will be on display. That's a big jump from last year's 140.
"It's so fun seeing all the different styles and all the different colors - and you can afford them all," said Tuttle, who will be shopping at the event for the third straight year. "That makes it all so less stressful."
Indeed, dresses that range between $300 and $800 can be had for $5 to $40, according to Erin Gellings, the MHS senior who has worked with the program since its inception four years ago and has served as chairwoman the past three years.
Bridesmaid dresses are common hand-me-downs, as are the very prom dresses bought at the event, as they are often re-donated back into the system. The result is an inventory large enough to cover most everyone.
"Prom is so special. It's the one night you can feel like a Disney princess," said Gellings, who gave schoolmates a sneak peak at some of the dresses by displaying them in the school library last week.
You can also feel like a Disney animal character on its wedding night, considering how among this year's offerings there's a dress with a zebra-print bust with a hot-pink sash, lots of shimmering toward the bottom, followed by a 2-foot train.
"We'll see if someone is daring enough for that one," Gellings said. "We had a couple of girls who competed in pageants donate dresses this year, so you'll see some fun stuff. There will also be some Cinderella dresses with meshing."
Not all the selection will be of the over-the-top variety. Julie Ula, who attended Monroe's prom in 2001 and 2002 and now owns Julie's Bridal Gallery here in town, has donated brand-new dresses each year including five this time around.
"Yes, I've donated some dresses with some bling, but also some straight dresses," she said. "I like to make sure I'm giving them the styles girls are looking for each year."
Ula knows how special the big dance is.
"I'll always remember my prom nights," she said. "Each and every girl should get to go, and this makes that possible. Besides, there aren't too many occasions around here when you can get all dressed up. So everyone should go for it."
Making prom an equal opportunity event was the impetus behind the idea of Prom for Pennies, as the financial pressure of buying a dress drove some kids away.
"You would hear girls talking in the hallways at school about how expensive it is, and that would be the reason they wouldn't go," Gellings said. "We wanted to make sure the prom was for more than those who could afford it."
Gellings said an outgoing senior four years ago came up with the idea after reading about a dress drive, and she and others just ran with it.
New or slightly-used dresses are sought, and each year all the proceeds go toward a local charity. This year's event supports a suicide-awareness program, Jacob's SWAG, initiated by a local family touched by tragedy.
"I like the fact the money stays in town," Ula said.
With the event well established, Gellings said there is absolutely no stigma attached with buying a dress from Prom for Pennies.
"Everyone knows it's for a good cause and it's all about having fun," she said. "No one thinks anything more of it."
The result is so many girls feeling good about themselves, something that warms the heart of longtime MHS guidance counselor Laurie Plourde. She knows the importance of a sense of belonging for teenagers.
"Anytime you can fit in with a group, that's great," Plourde said. "Looking the part is a positive thing."
She praised Gellings for her dedication.
"When you look at what Erin has done, it's just unbelievable," Plourde said. "I hope she realizes what a difference she's making for so many students."
Now that all the hard work is over for her final time, Gellings said she is looking forward to her favorite part of the event - the people watching. Tuttle will be among those she keeps an eye on.
"I just love to watch the dresses the girls pick out, and who gets what," she said. "They are a reflection of their personality. I know Christina well - she's a lot of fun - so I can't wait to see what she chooses."