Plano Prom Closet provides free formal wear

PLANO — This was no ordinary school night.

Sisters Allison and Bailey Judge stood with their mother, Gayla Judge, among a crowd of teen girls waiting for the doors to open. The family had driven 51 miles west from Quinlan in East Texas to St. Andrew Methodist Church in Plano with April 1 in mind.

That day, Quinlan Ford High School will hold its junior-senior prom. After a 90-minute car ride, senior Allison, 17, and junior Bailey, 16, were eager to find the perfect dress.

Mom didn’t get the opportunity to attend her prom, so she relished the moment.

“I’m so excited,” Gayla said. “I know I keep saying that, but I’m so excited.”

Once the doors opened on Wednesday, thousands of dresses welcomed them to the St. Andrew 14th annual Prom Closet. The two-week event put on by St. Andrew Women in Faith opened Tuesday and will continue next week in the church’s Smith Worship Center. Each year, Prom Closet has given about 1,000 high school girls across Texas and beyond gowns, shoes, purses and jewelry for their big night.

Girls can participate for free. All they have to do is register for one of 30 slots for each 1.5-hour time frame. One guest 16 or older can accompany them.

This year, the closet opened with over 4,000 dresses in sizes 0-30, many of them new. Donations can be dropped off at St. Andrew through Thursday. Those wanting to assist can also purchase items through an Amazon Prom Closet Wish List.

Prom Closet volunteers work to make the experience special for girls and their families. A volunteer personal shopper guides them through the sea of dresses before leading them to the dressing rooms. Once the girls make their picks, they shop for jewelry, shoes and purses. Then, they head to checkout, where volunteers wrap their accessories in tissue paper and place their gowns in dress bags.

“We have quite a few families that are in tears when they leave because otherwise they would not have been able to afford to send their daughter to their dance,” said Devra Helffrich, one of Prom Closet’s original founders. “Everyone should have the opportunity to attend their prom.”

Gayla wanted to make that happen for her daughters. She heard about Prom Closet from a friend who works in Dallas. The Judges piled into the car and linked up with volunteer personal shopper Kris Roberson for their 5:30 p.m. time slot.

Roberson, a long-time Plano resident and St. Andrew member, has volunteered since the event began in 2009. To participate, she had to sign up on the St. Andrew website and pass a background check. The event always seeks volunteers.

As a personal shopper, it’s Roberson’s job to help guide the girls as they peruse through the silk, sequins and various color combinations.

When Allison and Bailey entered the pink-lit room, they didn’t exactly know where to start. Allison said she doesn’t wear formal dresses very often, so she wasn’t sure of her size. Bailey hasn’t been to a dance in a while.

“I went to my eighth grade dance. That was about it,” she said.

Roberson was there to encourage the sisters alongside Gayla Judge, who offered suggestions to her girls, but didn’t know if they’d agree with their mom’s opinion or not. First, Roberson helped them figure out sizes. Then aesthetics. Sparkly and out there? Or simple and classic?

“You want them to not only find a dress that they think is pretty but that’s really going to work for them,” Roberson said.

Bailey narrowed down her choices quickly and sauntered over to the dressing rooms. The men of St. Andrew constructed them from PVC pipes. Volunteers clothed the rods in pink and black curtains. They also numbered each stall, like a retail store would. Before the dressing rooms were built, Prom Closet guests tried dresses on in the restroom.

What started as a mission project fueled by donations from Carrollton Creekview High School’s now-defunct Prom Closet has become a well-produced event by St. Andrew.

In the dressing room, with a mirror, chair and dress rack, Bailey debated between a pink, ruffly number and a bejeweled, emerald green piece. She opted for the latter.

“The green one is a little long,” Roberson said to Bailey. “Are you okay with wearing some heels?”

The 16-year-old obliged and made her way over to the jewelry before her older sister called her to the dressing room for help with her indecision. Bailey told Allison to just choose what she liked more.

“I don’t know, that’s why I had you come over here,” Allison teased.

Allison, the picky one, according to Bailey, finally decided on a bold, blue one-shoulder dress.

Kindred spirits, the sisters each selected strappy black heels, though Bailey’s were chunkier and Allison’s had a fringe detail. Just like that, it was time to leave Prom Closet.

Gayla’s face grew red and tears began to well in her eyes as she watched volunteers wrap up her daughters’ items at checkout.

The drive was worth it.

“I couldn’t afford to take them somewhere and buy them all this stuff,” Gayla Judge said. “And they deserve it. They deserve nice things. So what’s been done here is a really wonderful thing and it melts my heart.”