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- Project Prom Erie and Glam & Go Prom it Forward aim to ensure no student misses prom due to lack of attire.
- Organizers accept donations of formal wear and funds to support their efforts.
Sleek and sparkly and silver or soft and poufy and pink or however else a girl has dreamed her prom dress will look, there’s a chance she can find it for free in Erie County.
Glam & Go Prom it Forward and Project Prom Erie, PA both offer free prom dresses, men’s formal attire and accessories. Organizers of the two Erie County efforts said no student should have to miss their prom because they have nothing to wear.
“If they need it, they can come and get it,” said Brit Johnson, who started Glam & Go in Albion in 2025.
That was the same year Ashley Lord took on Project Prom Erie. “I’m just a mom,” she said. “I saw an opportunity to help people.”
What is Project Prom?
Project Prom provides dresses, pants, suit jackets, shoes and accessories such as jewelry and handbags. Lord would also possibly like to add flowers at some point.
She has about 800 dresses in sizes zero to 26, as well as pants and jackets, available for the 2026 prom season and tries to offer a “shopping experience” with racks of dresses and fitting rooms.
“I just want everybody to have a good experience,” she said.
While Project Prom isn’t a nonprofit, Lord said monetary donations are accepted and are used to help students buy tickets for proms and for racks to hang clothing on.
Although Erie is in the project’s name, Lord has helped students who live as far as four hours away. Project Prom Erie provided about 50 girls and more than 15 boys with attire in 2025.
“As long as I’m getting dresses in, I’m going to do it,” Lord said.
What is Glam & Go?
Johnson said cities tend to have more opportunities for events like prom dress giveaways but not every teen lives in or has transportation to get to a city.
“Our little corner of the world gets forgotten about sometimes,” she said in explaining why she offers a prom dress project in Albion.
She collected more than 350 dresses in 2025 along with men’s wear, shoes and jewelry. Most went to prom goers but at least one dress was worn to a military ball.
The Albion-area community, including about 20 volunteers, has come together to support the effort, which offers dresses in sizes zero to 26.
“It has completely grown into something so beautiful,” Johnson said.
She teamed up with the Northwestern Community Youth Center, 30 E. State St. Albion, which is next door to her salon, Beauty by Brit. The youth center obtained a clothing rack formerly located in a laundry and uses it to display dresses.
“You can push a button and they spin,” Johnson said.
Who can get prom wear?
The giveaways aren’t only for students who might struggle to afford pricey prom wear. Lord said she’s happy to help those who would rather spend their money on something other than a dress they’ll wear only once. She said other students are interested in helping the planet by reusing a dress.
Johnson’s original intent was to help students in western Erie County but said there’s no geographic limit.
“We’re not going to turn down somebody who needs help,” she said.
As a business owner, she said she hears about people struggling in the community and wanted to help.
How to get free prom dresses and formal attire
Project Prom Erie has four weekends of giveaways planned: March 13-15, 21-22 and 27-29 and April 11-12. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays and Sundays. Location is 1676 Pinegrove Way, Summit Township. Lord said that anyone not able to make one of the scheduled times could message her on Facebook for an appointment.
Johnson said Glam & Go’s special shopping days hadn’t been set yet for 2026, but she would share the info on social media, including the effort’s Facebook group.
How to help
Lord said she doesn’t have men’s suits so much as separate pants and jacket options.
“I’m definitely looking for more men’s donations,” she said.
Both women can be reached via Facebook for more information or for anyone wanting to make a donation.
Dana Massing can be reached at [email protected].
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