According to USA Today, the average cost of a prom dress runs between $150 and $500. This price could make prom unattainable for some. Luckily, several organizations are working to make prom dreams come true.

Operation Glass Slipper is one of these organizations. They give away free dresses as well as shoes, purses accessories and makeup at their annual open house.

Interestingly, Emily Philipp, who co-founded Operation Glass Slipper with her mother, didn’t start out with the intention of serving girls in the Twin Cities.

“Originally we were going to collect dresses around the Twin Cities and then send them down to victims of Hurricane Katrina,” Philipp said. But after realizing the local need for prom dresses, “we decided it would be worth creating something like this in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.”

To qualify for a dress, girls must have a referral form filled out by an adult. The forms are available at schools across the Twin Cities and also can be requested from the organization.

At the open houses, girls are assigned a “fairy godmother,” who guides them through the process of getting everything they need. This year’s open house will be at the Mall of America for the second year.

Philipp said having “fairy godmothers… helps in terms of how smooth everything functions” and is also an “opportunity for people… of diverse background to connect.” 

Fairy godmothers are also a way to let girls “know that there are people who really care about them and their well being,” Philipp said.

Last year Operation Glass Slipper distributed 1000 dresses. Philipp said they are expecting an even higher turnout this year due to the economy.

A similar organization is The Paperbag Princess, which operates year-round in south Saint Paul. In addition to dresses and shoes for girls, they have a limited number of suits and ties for boys. Private appointments at the storefront can be made via phone or email, but when visiting, students under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Unlike other organizations, The Paperbag Princess does not require proof of income or a recommendation. Barb Bloom, the volunteer dress coordinator, said that they made the decision to do this because “we wanted the experience of shopping at our store as similar as an experience as it would be for anyone who could afford to go into a store.”

Bloom said that although the dresses are free, they “have tentative suggestions of what might be a reasonable dollar donation… based on your lunch status.” For students on the free lunch program, there is no need to pay. There is a suggested donation of $25 for those on reduced lunch, or $50 otherwise.

Bloom said last year they helped 225 girls and 25 boys. “It’s pretty early so it’s hard to say how many we will serve this year.”