Young ladies want to attend PROM, WINTER BALL, and BANQUETS, but sometimes financial hardship can stand in the way of getting the really perfect dress. Beginning in November of 2017, the FRIENDS launched the third annual PROM DRESS DRIVE to collect gently used dresses and accessories to provide fashionable clothing for deserving youth.

Partnering with schools in East Hawaii, these dresses will be distributed at no-cost to youth who attend a short “abuse prevention, education and awareness” presentation, which will be conducted by the YWCA’s Sexual Assault Support Services.

The FRIENDS believe that “helping an abused child (teen) today can help to break the cycle of abuse tomorrow”.

During last year’s presentations, there were also many adults touched by this outreach, and some shared their stories, remembering that they were “the child who never owned a dress”.