Local dress shop donates to teen Sandy victims

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) – More than 200 high school students impacted by hurricane Sandy will see a sign of relief in the coming months, as a local dress shop has decided to make a difference.

This prom season is a little different for dress shoppers and store employees at Party Dress Express in Fall River.

The store has set their eyes on the teenaged victimS of Hurricane Sandy, and for every dress sold at the store, another is taken off the rack to hold for a student living in the New York and New Jersey area who was impacted by the hurricane.

“Our store has always donated to underprivileged students who are going to have a hard time going to prom. This year we decided to go beyond our scope,” said store owner Donna Holland.

More than 200 dresses have been set aside to be sent so far.

“Somebody said, ‘Oh, I can’t imagine those poor prom kids, those juniors and seniors going off to prom this year, losing their home, whether they will have a prom… whether they will be able to go to a prom… and from that the idea kind of exploded,” said Donna.

Hanover High School Senior Lauren Collins and mom Joanne are among the hundreds to help send another girl to her prom.

“It’s really nice because if I couldn’t get a dress I would be so sad,” said Lauren.

“I think that it is an amazing thing to do, to give people a dress just from buying a dress. This drive is incredibly generous and I think that this store must have a very big heart,” said Lauren’s mom Joanne.

Store owner Donna praised both her employees and customers for their enthusiasm. Donna says, the only concern now is find a shipping or trucking company to drive the dresses down to New York and New Jersey.