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As a mother of three adult daughters, Linda Ivy's closets were filled with prom dresses, pageant gowns and bridesmaid dresses in every style and color and, as with most formal gowns, they had only been worn once, if ever.
But unlike most women's barely worn dresses, hers will go to good use.
In early March, Ivy's husband, Kelly Ivy, learned about Operation Pretty and Polished Prom Donation Drive 2009, organized by his insurance company, State Farm. State Farm, with the help of radio station WPGC 95.5, is collecting dresses, tuxedos, suits, shoes and accessories to donate to local high school students for prom. This is the first year of the donation drive, and will continue annually.
Cindi Scafide, who has worked at State Farm for 22 years, came up with the idea after cleaning out her 17 year-old daughter's closet and finding up to 10 dresses from various formal events. Dresses for prom often cost several hundred dollars.
"I thought, wouldn't it be great to get these to someone who can use these?" Scafide said.
The idea spread through the grapevine to WPGC, as well as various State Farm policyholders.
"I've had people shopping in my kids' closets for years," said Linda Ivy, a Greenbelt resident, who, in just two weeks, has donated 52 dresses, two pairs of shoes and a few purses. "With prom, one of your biggest expenses is the attire."
Ivy posted on the ‘Greenbelters' forum in Yahoo Groups, which drew more attention. Greenbelt resident Laura Holman gathered dresses from her church in Arlington, Va., and donated close to 20 gowns, as well as shoes, purses and even a Christian Dior clutch.
"It makes me feel good to know that these are going to girls out there who need them," Holman said. "There were people who didn't go to prom when I was in high school because they couldn't afford it, and that was in 1998."
The goal of Operation Pretty and Polished was to collect 500 dresses by April 3. To date, they have received only 200 dresses.
If dresses or suits are dirty, Scafide sends them to Zip's Drycleaners in Laurel, College Park, Rockville, Marlow Heights and Washington, D.C., who have volunteered to clean up to 500 items for free.
"It's very gratifying that we can all come together, not for financial gain, but just to help people," Scafide said.
Prom is often expensive for high school students, with the cost of dresses and tuxedos being one of the big ticket items.
"The reason I did this is because the economy is not the greatest," Ivy said. "For someone to go to prom and get a nice dress without having to pay for it is wonderful."
"In previous years, faculty members have gone out and purchased items for the students who couldn't afford it," said Lolethia Lomax-Frazier, a guidance counselor at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt. "Of course there are students that might need assistance."
If you would like to donate, bring items to any State Farm office in Prince George's or Montgomery counties or in Washington, D.C., by April 3. The Mall at Prince Georges Customer Service Center is also accepting donations.
Contact Cindi Scafide at cindi@scafideinsurance.com or 301-588-1497. More information is also available at www.wpgc.com.
The donations will be distributed from noon to 4 p.m. April 18 at the State Farm Claim Office at 1500 Harry Thomas Way , N.E., in the District. To browse the items, a valid high school identification card must be shown.
