Prom can be the most treasured night for any girl because she gets to get dressed up, dance with friends, and have a good time. Although girls want to have fun, financial problems play a big part in prom. To fix this pressing issue, CHS mother Shalon Gonzalez started Love Me 2 Times Dance Dresses, because she heard that girls could not go to prom due to the expensive cost of dresses. This project collects barely-worn dresses and lends them to girls in need.

Along with Nicole Gaxiola and Yvonne Maldonado, who also played a major part in the program, fellow co-workers, friends, and mothers of students at CHS, Gonzalez works hard to try to get people to donate dresses. Gonzalez realized that dresses cost from about $150-$500 in many stores, and that parents also had to pay for transportation, tickets, food, and other necessities. Due to these facts, the program’s mission has expanded and the mothers hope to continue this project for next year’s prom. The dresses they have made available are not only for prom, but are also available for Senior Graduation Night and future formal events.

“I have heard for the past six years I can’t go because I can’t afford the dance tickets and dress attire with all the added extras,” Gonzalez said. “So my co-worker, Nicole, and I spoke to friends and family about donating dresses to help relieve the cost of the dances. Plus usually the dresses get worn once. Then my friend Yvonne posted it on Facebook indoor yardsale Claremont and we got a Hugh response of donations. Then the Claremont Courier got a hold of me to do an article on getting donations. After that, we had so many dresses, I figured I needed to run with it. It started to take on a life of it’s own.”

The mothers started this project in March and have already collected more than 20 dresses. Although this program focuses on women’s clothing, people have also donated ties and other formal wear. They are also accepting gift cards to stores including Claire’s, tuxedo shops, Windsor, flower shops for corsages and boutonnières, and hair and makeup salons. Other women even volunteered their time to help with girls’ hair and makeup for prom.

“This is all worth the work of collecting and putting it together. Just to see their eyes light up and have a big smile on their face brings tears to my eyes. Everyone deserves to feel beautiful and handsome on a special night without having to empty their pockets or parents’ pockets!” Gonzalez said.

Although this is the first time this kind of project was introduced to CHS, they are hoping to make the program long term to help all students in need. The program is also currently still accepting donations, even though prom is over. If anyone would still wish to donate please contact Gonzalez at [email protected]. This new project has been and will be beneficial to CHS students who are in need of fancy attire.