Newby’s Ace Hardware Hosts Prom Dress Drive

Teenagers hoping to find the perfect prom dress or suit had a unique opportunity to shop for their attire at a discount, thanks to Newby’s Ace Hardware in Devils Lake, North Dakota.

Newby’s employee Jacqui Dammen says she was inspired by another Ace store that held a similar event. Dammen put out a call to community members to donate their gently used formalwear, including dresses, shoes, jewelry and suits.

“People often have dresses and shoes taking up space in their closets,” Dammen says. “We thought this was a great way to put them to use again.”

The business partnered with a local salon and a local florist to host the event in the Devils Lake City Plaza. The event, called “Dressing Up at the Plaza,” featured 90 donated dresses, three suits and a selection of shoes and jewelry for prom hopefuls to browse. Dresses and suits cost $20 to $35, shoes were $10 and jewelry was $3.

The money raised will be put toward expenses this year and advertising for next year’s event. Any profits will be donated to charity.

“Prom is often so expensive,” Dammen says. “We wanted to find a way to make it affordable so anybody can attend.”