Student Collecting Dresses for Underprivileged Girls

Most high school girls would never think about missing their prom. But for some girls, going to the prom will never happen because they can’t afford a dress.

Rachael Coughlin wants to change that.

For the second consecutive year, Coughlin is collecting lightly-used dresses to give to the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), the state’s child welfare agency. DYFS will distribute the dresses to underprivileged girls.

“I saw that I could help others who may not be as fortunate as some people,” said Coughlin, a sophomore at Wayne Valley High School. “Going to these events is so much fun and dressing up is a big part of that.”

Many girls wear dresses once or twice to a dance or sweet 16 party, Coughlin said. They are then dry cleaned and placed on hangers in closets, sometimes for years, before they are discarded.

“My mom always says that we’re not the richest people in the world, but weren’t not the poorest either,” Coughlin said. “I know how fortunate I’ve been to have what I have.”

Kathy Coughlin said Rachael received gorgeous dresses last year. Every one was taken.

“These girls, their eyes lit up when they saw them,” Kathy said. “Some would never have gotten to experience their prom if not for receiving a dress.”

For more information, or to find out how to donate a dress, call Kathy Coughlin at 973-809-1861.