For many teenage girls, the thought of attending their high school prom immediately brings to mind one question – what am I going to wear?

But for some girls, the bigger question is how are they going to afford a dress?

The Oxford Public Library is helping answer those questions by once again serving as a collection site for Hope Closet.

Hope Closet’s mission is to provide young ladies with the dress of their choice, free of charge, so they’re able to attend high school events.

Alissa Bach, a teen services librarian, is a big fan of the program because it allows girls to “find something pretty and nice” without having “to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars.”

“I remember what it’s like to be a teenager. Not everyone has parents that can buy a dress. Not everyone (has enough money of their own to) afford a dress,” she said. “A lot of kids don’t work. I didn’t work when I was a teenager because I was so focused on school.”

Between now and the end of February, folks are encouraged to stop by the library and donate formal dresses along with accessories such as shoes, purses, wraps and jewelry. Donations are tax-deductible.

All items must be new or gently used, clean and in keeping with current fashion trends.

Donated dresses should be “free from stains, rips and tears,” according to Bach.

“We usually ask that people dry clean them first,” she said.

All sizes and styles are welcome, especially dresses that are size 14W and larger.

“Plus-size dresses are always needed. We don’t really get a lot of them,” Bach said.

However, she noted dresses should not be “too revealing” or have any other features that would generally violate school dress codes.

Bach asked that all dresses be “tastefully appropriate,” yet still “something youthful that a high school girl would like” to wear.

The library’s been partnering with Hope Closet for more than a decade.

“For me, it’s fun to see all the dresses come in, all the shoes, all the different fashions and styles,” Bach said.

In 2018, the library collected nearly 150 dresses for the organization, plus “a ton” of accessories, according to Bach.

“Last year, the Oxford community was so generous,” she said. “We had a dress rack in the teen area that got so full, it collapsed.”

For one week in April, Hope Closet operates a special boutique where girls can browse the selection of donated items with a personal shopper who helps them pick out a free dress and one accessory. Girls are required to show proof they’re currently enrolled in high school and must be physically present at the boutique. Parents are not allowed to shop in their place. Hope Closet does not guarantee that everyone will receive a dress.

Girls who attend Oxford High School are welcome to shop at the library instead of waiting for the boutique to open. All they need to do is present a valid school identification card to library staff.

“If a teen comes in and they see something they like, they’re more than welcome to try it on and take it with them if it works for them,” Bach said. “We encourage it.”

Although the library is collecting for Hope Closet through the end of the month, Bach said it will most likely go on longer than that. “We always end up extending it into March because people just keep bringing in dresses and shoes and accessories,” she said. “We can’t really turn them away.”

The library is located at 530 Pontiac Rd. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

For more information, please visit Hope Closet’s website.