Dresses on Wheels Getting Ready to Hit the Road

When Tamara Furlong couldn’t find anywhere to donate old dresses, she took matters into her own hands.

When she asked around, no one knew of somewhere where she could donate and then have girls in need get the dresses completely free.

“I decided to take it upon myself to start a prom dress collection and I’m calling it Dresses on Wheels,” Furlong wrote in an e-mail. “I’m providing this right out of my minivan for high school girls in need of a prom dress.”

The program will serve girls in the Phoenixville area, as well as surrounding school districts. Where will the minivan go?

Furlong said it will go wherever there’s need, in the local area, and that includes Phoenixville Area School District, Spring-Ford, Owen J. Roberts and Pottstown. Those wanting to donate or those in need of a dress for prom can contact her at dressesonwheels@yahoo.com to set up appointments. Then Furlong will bring her rolling wardrobe out to public places.

“As of right now, I’m just having my husband put some kind of rod in [the van], and I’m just going to hang them up right now and drive around and if I can get some dates and get some places, some actual locations that I can have access to a try-on place, that would be ideal,” Furlong said.

Furlong hopes to find one central location in each school district where girls can try on the gowns. She’s also working on getting local cleaners and seamstresses involved. That way, the girls wouldn’t have to worry about alterations or cleaning.

She hopes the program will grow, and that perhaps hair stylists or make-up artists in the area will donate some services to make the night extra special for those receiving the free gowns.

As for what Dresses on Wheels will accept for donations, Furlong said she’s game for anything. If something isn’t a good fit, she’ll donate it elsewhere, but right now she’s seeking any donated gowns.

“I’m trying to get it out there as much as I can because it is such a short timeframe,” Furlong said. “I’m trying to get as much selection as I can.”

For the girls receiving dresses, there will be a limit of one per student, just to keep everything fair. Furlong is willing to work one-on-one with recipients to help them out.  She said she understands that while things may look OK on the surface, with the economy what it is prom dresses aren’t affordable for everyone.

“Sometimes you don’t participate in things in high school and you turn around and go, I should have done that or wish I could have done that,” Furlong said. “And I’m hoping to avoid that, especially for those who really want to be there.”

For more information on donating gowns or if you’re looking for a free gown, contact Tamara Furlong at dressesonwheels@yahoo.com.