Gown Town helps girls go to prom in style at no cost

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - WASK radio stations B102.9 and K105 wanted to do something a little different to help members of the community.

"There's a lot of 5Ks, there's a lot of can drives and those are all great, but this is really something different that the community just responded tremendously," B102.9 Morning Host and Program Director Logan said.

That's why four years ago they started Gown Town, a program in place to help girls in high school get a prom dress free of charge.
 
"Prom dresses are expensive," K105 Morning Host and Operations Director Shamus. "It's expensive to go to prom and we figured that a lot of people had prom dresses in their closets that they probably weren't going to wear again so we thought what if people were to donate those dresses."

This year more than 2,500 dresses have been donated by the community. The goal of Gown Town is to make sure every girl can go to prom and not worry about the price tag, something Logan said hits close to home.
    
"When I was a junior in high school she told me she couldn't go because she couldn't afford a dress," Logan said.

Both Logan and Shamus said they never imagined they'd be surrounded by thousands of dresses, but seeing how happy young girls are to have a dress is something they'll never forget.

"We've had quite a few dresses of girls bringing back their dresses the next year and making sure that we're going to do it again because after they're done they want to make sure to bring it back so a girl can use it next year," Shamus said.

Shamus said Gown Town grows every year tripling in size since the first time. This year he said they're expecting more than 400 girls to attend Gown Town. There are no requirements to get a dress and the event is open to all high school girls.
 
Gown Town is held at the Lafayette MarketPlace Shopping Center between Kmart and Plato's Closet. The event ends at 8 Friday evening. Men are not allowed inside Gown Town.