SCIOTA, Pa. — From beaded and bedazzled to lace or print, Keller Williams Realty near Sciota is helping Monroe County teens look and feel their best at prom this year.
"As realtors, we deal with people all the time who are having hardships, and it's really important for the girls to have a special day," Wendy Kudla said.
Knowing just how expensive prom can be, Wendy Kudla started the prom dress collection drive to make sure every teen can attend.
Kudla is part of a coaching group with the other real estate agents, and every few months, they try to help out the community in some way.
"'For teenagers, prom is the big thing for a lot of them. They don't have any other great exciting day to get dressed up and pretty and fancy, and I know for myself, if my family was going through financial times, I wouldn't want to ask."
So instead, she is asking those in the community to open their closets and donate gently worn dresses, shoes, and jewelry. The group is hoping to get 250 dresses.
"We will take ball gowns. We will take shorter dresses. We will take anything you can give us. Some of the dresses that are maybe a little better fit for older women, we are going to bring to women's resources so nothing will go to waste."
The group is also looking for people to donate gift cards or do hair and makeup.
"Lash salons, hair salons, anybody who does makeup, you know, dry cleaners—anybody who would like to donate, we'll even take gift cards, Visa gift cards. So we're looking for a little bit more so we can get them everything that they need."