For many high school students, attending prom can come with a hefty price tag. Cinderella’s Closet of Western Kentucky is working to remove that barrier, offering dresses, shoes, and accessories at no cost while creating an experience centered on confidence and care.
“There is a need in Owensboro and really across the country,” said Laura Conkright of Cinderella’s Closet. “Attending prom is not feasible for a lot of people because of expenses. You could go to a consignment store and not even find a dress under $100.”
Founded in Northern Kentucky in 2005, Cinderella’s Closet expanded to Owensboro in 2015. Since then, the local effort has grown significantly, serving dozens of students in its early years to more than 200 scheduled participants this year.
The annual event, held at Owensboro Christian Church, takes place over a single weekend and serves students from 13 school districts across western Kentucky and southern Indiana.
Participants are referred through school youth service coordinators and receive what organizers describe as a “royal treatment.” Each student is paired with a volunteer “fairy godmother” who helps them select a dress and coordinates their experience from start to finish.
“They are going to get a dress, jewelry, and shoes completely free, no need to return them at all, and you’re going to get the royal treatment,” Conkright said.
Students move through different stations, including dresses, shoes, jewelry, and on-site alterations for minor adjustments. Volunteers assist at every step, from helping with fittings to packaging the final selections.
“When they leave, it’s going to look like they walked out of a boutique,” Conkright said.
Beyond providing attire, organizers emphasize creating a supportive and positive environment. Students make their own selections without outside pressure, allowing them to feel confident in their choices.
“We want the decision to be theirs,” Conkright said. “We want this to be a positive experience.”
Conkright said the transformation in participants is often immediate.
“The transformation from when they come in to when they leave is unreal,” she said. “They come in and don’t know what to expect, and then when they leave, they have a big grin on their face.”
The program is entirely volunteer-driven and supported through donations and fundraising efforts. Dresses, shoes, and jewelry are accepted year-round at locations including Apollo High School and Heritage Park High School, provided items are clean and prom-appropriate.
Additional support comes from community partnerships and donations, including contributions from e.l.f. Cosmetics and dress donations from retailers such as Sydney’s Closet.
Fundraising efforts include box lunch sales, with the next event scheduled for late April. Meals, which include a sandwich, chips, fruit and dessert, help cover operational costs and sustain the program.
Conkright said community involvement is essential to the program’s success, with more than 200 volunteers helping throughout the weekend event alone.
“It takes this community to pull this off,” she said.
More information about volunteering, donations and future events can be found on the Cinderella’s Closet of Western Kentucky Facebook page.
