Fontanelle teen collecting prom dresses for those less fortunate

Nodaway Valley senior Marie Pickrell is hoping that through a community service project she’s doing, none of her classmates or students from other area schools will have to have the experience of not being able to go to prom because they can’t afford a dress.

Pickrell said that while she went and purchased a dress last year for prom, some girls don’t get that opportunity. The Fontanelle teen is going to work to find a remedy for that by collecting used dresses, then she will have an open house where girls can come and select one to wear for their big night.

“I’ve grown up feeling like everyone should be treated equal, and I grew up less fortunate than most of my friends and neighbors,” Pickrell said. “When I was allowed the opportunity to get a prom dress and others around me couldn’t, I felt bad about it. I wanted to make sure to give back to those who can’t afford it and didn’t have the opportunity to go shopping or have a parent who would go shopping with them.”

Beginning this week, Pickrell will begin collecting donations of dresses at Nodaway Valley High School, Havens Accounting and FNB in Fontanelle. She said that while seniors and juniors make up the bulk of prom attendees at Nodaway Valley, some younger students go as dates of older kids. She hopes all girls who want to go will have a suitable dress to wear.

Saturday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, March 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., open houses for the dress shopping will be at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle in the wedding room.

Pickrell said she wants to thank the community in advance for their support of her overseeing this important community mission.

Next school year, Pickrell plans to attend Drake University to study finance and accounting. She has received a scholarship for her academic abilities.

Dresses collected, but not chosen, for prom this year will be donated to a non-profit charity.