Project Prom offers more than 2,000 dresses for Merced teens

Last year, Julia Ly wore her dream dress to prom – and she got it for free.

The 17-year-old Golden Valley High School student found the dress at the Project Prom event in Modesto. She knew many other high school girls who would’ve liked to attend the event, but couldn’t get to Modesto.

This year Ly will be able to find the perfect gown for her senior prom right here in Merced.

Project Prom will host its first event in Merced all day Saturday at the Alliance Church of Merced, with more than 2,000 dresses available for any high school girl who would like one. The event is put on by the Bay Area chapter of Hmong Women Today.

“Any help from this prom dress drive means less money parents have to fork out,” Ly said.

Louansee Moua, chair of Project Prom, began the event in San Jose 10 years ago when the recession hit while she worked for then-Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen.

“We were out in the community and talking to families who said their kids weren’t going to prom because they had no money,” Moua said. “They had to pay for food and rent vs. prom. Depending on where you live, prom costs anywhere from $500 to $1,000.”

As the event grew, many San Jose dress shops began donating hundreds of brand-new dresses. For Merced’s event this year, donation boxes were placed at various business sites, including Alison Nicole Nail Co., Lee’s Community Food Market, Pocket 8’s Sushi and Grill, United Way in both Fresno and Merced, and the UC Merced library.

Year after year, Moua has watched girls leave with smiles on their faces and crying tears of joy.

“We love the event because of the stories it generates and how it makes the girls feel,” she said.

Last year’s event in Modesto was the first year Moua organized the giveaway outside of the Bay Area. The event enabled about 300 girls to find dresses.

Ly’s mother and aunt, Chamee and Maysy Vang, first attended the event in San Jose. Their daughters volunteered at the event and were able to choose dresses in return.

“We wanted to bring it to our town, to the Valley and our girls here,” Maysy Vang said. “I’m a working-class mom. In this area are a lot of families who need help.”

To show her gratitude, Ly is volunteering at this year’s event.

More than 40 other girls from Merced-area high schools will volunteer at the event Saturday, along with 15 other women who helped with setting up on Friday, organizing dresses by size and color.

“We realize girls come in all shapes and sizes,” Moua said. “It takes courage just to show up at this event. We want to have something for everyone.”

Volunteers will be on hand to help girls find styles, colors and the size of dress they’re looking for. The event will include a program and raffle prizes that include hair and makeup sessions, floral gift certificates and photo sessions.

Girls will receive dresses on a first-come, first-served basis. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Alliance Church of Merced, 1171 Old Lake Road.

This story was originally published March 11, 2016 at 6:39 PM with the headline "Project Prom offers more than 2,000 dresses for Merced teens."