STROUDSBURG -- Going to prom in the Poconos can be a little more affordable for high school girls thanks to Becca’s Closet in Stroudsburg.
Evergreen Community Charter School junior Katie Troutman is in charge of this charity in Monroe County aimed at helping girls nationwide.
"There was a girl named Rebecca Kirtman in Florida who started this who realized girls in her hometown weren't going to their prom, not because they didn`t have dates, but because they couldn`t afford it,” said Troutman.
The idea spread to Monroe County about 10 years ago. Troutman has organized it for the last two, gathering about 1,000 lightly used dresses in all sizes, colors, with lots of glitz and glam.
"This runs all on volunteers and donations so all year round she has to publicize it, she has to get the word out to all of those teenage girls that have prom dresses sitting in their closets,” said Katie’s mother Louise Troutman of Cresco.
Girls shopping in Becca's Closet this year won't just find secondhand dresses, many of them are brand new and still have the tags on.
Troutman secured corporate sponsorships from PromGirl.com and Tom’s Coffee, Cards and Gifts in New York, getting about 150 new dresses to add to the racks.
“I love just being able to give the girls the dresses and seeing these people be happy, that they otherwise might not be able to go to prom,” said Troutman.
The dresses are free, so are the shoes, handbags, and other accessories. It's a deal that’s hard to pass up.
“We would encourage you to come down and get it, because as a parent I know what a prom dress costs, and several hundred dollars for your daughter to go to prom," Troutman.
Becca’s Closet will remain open at the Hampton Inn in Stroudsburg throughout the weekend.
The store is open Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
