FONDA - High school girls who don't want to spend a small fortune on their prom dresses could save some money when the Fonda-Fultonville High School class of 2010 conducts a sale of "gently used" prom gowns this month.
The event will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 22 in the auditorium at the high school, 112 Old Johnstown Road. Proceeds will benefit the school's annual after-prom party.
Event coordinator Sharon Kline said every dress will have a price tag of $75. New prom dresses often sell for hundreds of dollars.
From the sale of each used dress, $50 will go to the original owner and $25 will go to the after-prom fund. Dresses that are not purchased will be returned.
"If we sell four dresses, that's $100 more toward the after-prom fund," Kline said.
Current and former students already have donated about 10 dresses, and Kline encourages others in the community to contribute more.
"We will be accepting donations of used dresses up until Jan. 14," she said.
To sell a dress, one may drop it off with Kline at the elementary school or fill out a slip at the high school office. Dresses also may be given to the front desks at the elementary and middle school.
Kline said the idea grew out of discussions her daughter and her friends had about possibly trading dresses for dances. Many girls own dresses they have worn only once, she said.
"With the economy the way it is, a lot of people are saying they have extra dresses they'd like to sell," Kline said. "It may help girls out who are looking to go to the prom but can't afford it."
Kline said she would like to get girls from other schools involved.
"They wouldn't know the person they were purchasing the dress from, so it would be more anonymous," Kline said.
The after-prom party takes place at the school from 1 to 5 a.m. and offers students a safe, alcohol- and drug-free environment to spend the night. Kline said the event features a hypnotist, dodge ball, ice cream sundaes and a bounce house for students. There are also raffles of items such as iPods.
Each class can only start fundraising in the spring of its junior year, so funds need to come in quickly for the event.
"We try to put it on for as inexpensive as possible, but it is expensive to entertain a large group of teens," she said.
The used dress sale will take place after a fashion show that will include dresses from A Fine Romance. Students from the class of 2010 will model the dresses, and vendors will be on hand to display everything from limousines to hairstyles. Tickets for combined admission to the fashion show and sale cost $5.
"I hope it goes over well and it is well received," Kline said.
Kerry McAvoy covers Montgomery County. She can be reached at montco@leaderherald.com