Prom season is just around the corner. It’s every girl’s dream to go to prom wearing the perfect dress. But for some, the perfect dress — not to mention the matching shoes, purse and jewelry — are an expense they just can’t afford.

“I’m almost positive that three-fourths of them wouldn’t be able to go, or else they would have to give up something that wasn’t a luxury,” says Jane Hawman, organizer of the Cinderella’s Closet prom dress swap in St. Joseph.

Last year the swap matched up 27 high school girls with the prom dress of their dreams for no cost. This year, Ms. Hawman hopes to reach even more girls.

Collection for Cinderella’s Closet will be from 1 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 30 and 31. Those with clean, gently used formal dresses, shoes, purses and jewelry can take donations to the YWCA, 304 N. Eighth. Ms. Hawman says she will accept all dresses, but is especially in need of dresses in larger sizes, 12-20.

The actual date for the dress swap is Saturday, Feb. 7. Girls may come to try on dresses from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the YWCA. Ms. Hawman asks that young ladies bring their school IDs so she can keep track of which schools they are from. If you have any questions, you can contact her at 244-5030.

In Gentry Country, a similar swap will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Gentry County Library. Pam Osborn, organizer, says 35 girls found prom dresses last year that were either free or priced at very low cost.

“Everyone was very generous. The community really pulled together and donated quite a few,” she says, “so hopefully they still have some in their closet.”

Those interested in making donations can drop them off at the Gentry Country Library, 219 N. Park Street in Stanberry, Mo., or they can contact Ms. Osborn at (660) 783-2687.

For Ms. Osborn, the donation of a dress that’s just hanging in the closet is a small price to pay to help a teen girl have her dream prom.

“It was so rewarding, and it was really, really fun just to watch them. They got so excited when they found the perfect dress,” she says. “And the mothers were just as excited, because they weren’t going to have to shell out $200 for a prom dress.”

Lifestyles reporter Lacey Storer can be reached at lstorer@npgco.com

The wrong date and address was provided for the Gentry County prom dress swap in Sunday’s Diem section, due to a reporter’s error. The swap will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Gentry County Library, 304 N. Park St. For more information, call the library at (660) 783-2335.