OWINGS MILLS, Md. —
This weekend, teenagers will be able to go to the Baltimore County Public Library Owings Mills Branch and leave with a prom dress for free.
“It doesn’t look like the library, but it is the library,” said Erica Palmisano, of the Baltimore County Public Library.
The satin, sparkle and sequins came as a community effort. The library asked for donations and people delivered.
“We started collecting prom formal wear, anything from prom dresses, to accessories, to shoes, to tuxes for the boys,” Palmisano said.
They couldn’t believe what they got. From size zero to 24, there’s something for everyone.
“Some of our regular teens, we know them and we know their stories. That’s part of what we do and we know they can’t afford an expensive dress or an expensive tux or even rent one,” Palmisano said.
There are about 1,000 dresses — long and short — and hundreds of tuxes. Some of them still have the tags. Each promgoer will be able to grab an outfit and accessories, so money doesn’t end up getting in the way of going to prom.
The event takes place Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.