SAN ANTONIO \u2013 For more than a decade, one local nonprofit has supplied teenagers with dresses, suits, shoes, purses and accessories for prom.<\/p>\n
Project Prom Dress said that this year, they need some help to continue that mission.<\/p>\n
Ashley Johnson, a mother of teens herself, founded the nonprofit with her husband in 2014.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m from a single-parent home,\u201d founder Ashley Johnson said. \u201cI had to work my senior year of high school to pay for all my prom expenses.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought there\u2019s so many women that have a dress that either they wore once or not at all and its just sitting in the closet,\u201d Johnson continued.<\/p>\n
Located on Donaldson Avenue across from Jefferson High School, Project Prom Dress is full of racks with new and used formal wear for teens in need.<\/p>\n
The nonprofit said it still needs more XL and plus-sized dresses. It also needs men\u2019s formal wear in all sizes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always joke that the men don\u2019t want to give up their suits,\u201d Johnson said. <\/p>\n
Project Prom Dress also said it is seeking monetary donations to help teens prepare for the big dance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can also acquire items such as care packages with toiletries for the kids. So not only do they look good but they smell good, feel good,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cAnd then we can obtain gift cards for different places such as Ross, K&G for items we may not have for big and tall, plus sizes, extended size shoes as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Project Prom Dress outfits nearly 200 to 250 teenagers each year, not just for prom but also homecoming dances, military balls and other formal occasions. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t turn anyone away,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cEvery kid deserves to go to prom.\u201d<\/p>\n