Diana Scott, Studio D Catering owner, has been collecting donated dresses for the past few weeks and will soon be inviting high school girls to come and pick out their favorite one at no charge. The only stipulation is that they have to fill out a Thank You card, Scott said. Girls will also have the option to bring in last year’s prom dress and exchange it for a new one.

The idea came to her a few years ago, but wasn’t possible at the time. However, recently, Scott heard a few young ladies talking as they passed by the front of her building. She said the girls were saying they had been invited to prom, but weren’t sure they could go because they didn’t have a dress. One girl said her mother had lost her job, and she couldn’t bear asking for a dress, Scott said.

“I knew that Striders used to do it, and they had quit,” she said. “I hadn’t heard of anyone in the Jamestown area doing it. Other outlying areas … but I didn’t hear anything to do with Jamestown.”

Scott said she decided this year was the time, and put out a call for dress donations. She said it has since been two-and-a-half weeks, and by the end of the day, there should be 275 dresses.

Some of the prom dresses that will be available at the exchange from Monday through Wednesday. P-J photo by Katrina Fuller

The dresses will be given away April 10, 11 and 12 from 3-7 p.m at Studio D Catering on Second Street.

“We’re asking the girls to please bring an adult with them when they come,” Scott said. “They can receive a free dress, or bring their last year’s prom dress for a new dress. That way, I’m trying to keep the stock up for next year, so I don’t want to deplete if we can help it.”

She said she hopes to continue it next year as well, possibly including a runway pageant for the young ladies.

“I want to see if I can get the local hairdressers and salons to donate, and actually have the girls put (the dresses) on,” Scott said, adding she planned on talking to a local theater to host the event.

Dresses have been sent in from California, Colorado and Washington, D.C. as well as the local area. She said she created a Facebook post, which was shared about 13,000 times.

“I’m amazed we did this well this year, and hopefully next year it will be even more,” Scott said. “We have sizes two to 24. We have cocktail length and full gowns.”

Other donations will also be accepted throughout the disbursement period. Scott said she invited students from Falconer, Randolph, Frewsburg, Jamestown and elsewhere to attend the event.

She said she especially wants to thank Jamestown Skate Shop, South Hills Country Club and Anderson Cleaners for donating clothing racks for the event.

“I just appreciate it,” Scott said. “I’ve had some help from a new friend, Mary Jo Alpaugh – she has helped me through the past couple days sorting.”

Mia Bella Salon in Jamestown also donated several dresses, she said. Scott said Uptown Dresser on First Street has offered to do alterations on the dresses, should they need to be done. Uptown Dresser is located at 201 E. First St. in Jamestown.

Studio D. Catering is located at 106 E. Second Street. For more information, call 40-6035 or find the event on Facebook under “Prom Dress Exchange.”