Those Pine-Richland proms are a memory now, but what about the gowns and tuxes and accessories that went with them?

Where are they now? Stuck in the back of a closet?

Project Prom is looking for those fashionable duds. They could make another high schooler happy by helping him or her get to the prom dressed in style.

The initiative of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services is accepting public donations of formal attire for girls and boys at downtown and Bethel Park locations.

The Project Prom Shop at Century III Mall will begin accepting donations March 5.

All donations must be undamaged, clean and currently styled.

For girls the following items will be accepted: formal gowns (if worn, please dry clean); formal purses and shoes (silver, gold and black preferred); new hosiery; wraps and formal jewelry (new or gently worn). All earrings must be unused and in their original packaging.

For boys the accepted items are: tuxedos (if worn, please dry clean); formal shoes; new dress socks; cummerbunds; bow ties; pocket squares and cuff links. Gift certificates for salons; tuxedo rentals; flower shops; limousine service and retail stores (shoes, jewelry and accessories) will also be accepted.

Donations can be dropped off at the following locations:

• Human Services Building, One Smithfield St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (in the first floor lobby) from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday until March 8.
• South Hills Interfaith Ministries (SHIM), 5301 Park Ave., Bethel Park, PA 15102 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday until March 4.
• Century III Mall, 3075 Clairton Road, West Mifflin, PA 15123 (Prom Project Shop, third floor) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 through Friday, March 8.

Now celebrating its 10^th anniversary, Project Prom provides eligible high school students the opportunity to choose free formal attire from a selection of thousands of donated items.

To be eligible, students must live in Allegheny County and be prepared to show his or her valid student ID along with proof of meeting the eligibility criteria listed below.   

Girls are eligible if they

• Receive services or have a family member receiving services through DHS, or
• Receive or eligible to receive a free or reduced-price school lunch, or
• Have a caretaker receiving unemployment benefits.

Boys must receive services or have a family member receiving services through DHS, and are required to pre-register by contacting their caseworker.

For more information about how to donate, call 412-350-3428 and leave a message.

For more information about Project Prom, visit www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/projectprom.aspx.

__________________________

Please help us get to 1,000 Facebook “likes” by clicking here and “liking” us.

Check out some of today's other top stories here.