SAN ANTONIO – Ashley Johnson is helping to write some Cinderella stories.
The working mom is something of a fairy godmother, launching Project Prom Dress San Antonio to help underprivileged girls. She is collecting gently used dresses through January to give to deserving girls so they can go to the ball.
"There's a lot of girls out there that may have financial issues at home or they could even be homeless," Johnson said.
Her project, which is in its infancy, is spreading the word through its Project Prom Dress San Antonio Facebook page.
"There's so many ladies out there that wear these dresses one time and are just sitting in their closet," Johnson said.
She is taking donations of all sizes, colors and lengths.
Friends of hers have also agreed to assist with hairstyling and manicures for the big event.
Johnson recalls her own prom expenses. She worked part time to help her mother, a single parent, pay for a pretty prom dress. Now, Johnson hopes to ease struggling families' burdens and put a smile on a young girl's face.
"Prom is pretty much once in a lifetime, and I would hate for someone to miss out, because they didn't have the opportunity," she said.
Johnson is accepting requests for dresses from girls by email at projectpromdresssa@gmail.com. The recipients will be selected in early February.