Prom Dresses Sought: Medford Woman Leads Way in Prom Dress Swap

For the third year, Erin DiBenedetto will bring in some of her table cloth and use some partitions to convert the Medford High School teacher's lounge into a prom dress changing room in March.

DiBenedetto has been at the reigns for Medford High's annual Sweet Seconds Prom Dress Swap, slated to take place this year on March 13. But before that can happen, she needs some dresses.

“I need a lot – I need gowns," DiBenedetto said in a phone interview Tuesday. "I’m a little slow starting this year.”

DiBenedetto, now a member of the Medford School Committee, says she can't take credit for the idea. It was another parent involved in the Medford High Parent-Teacher Organization three years ago. But once she heard about it, she made it her event.

"I kind of picked up the ball ran with it," she said.

The first year, DiBenedetto and volunteers at the swap obtained about 80 dresses and dressed about 40 girls for prom, she said. Last year, she decided to reach out to some dress shops to see if they would help. The Ultimate in Peabody donated 12; Bride N' Belle in Medford donated 30 new dresses, she said.

Last year's swap lasted two days. On the first day, only a few girls showed up. The second day was a different story. There was a line of girls waiting for the swap to open the next day.

"Once those girls went and told their friends there were tons of people," DiBenedetto said. "I couldn’t get dresses on the racks fast enough."

The swap aims to offer an alternative to paying a high price for a dress that might only be used once. Many spend hundreds on prom dresses, DiBenedetto said.

She expected a big crowd this year and, with her new position on the school committee, it's been tough for DiBenedetto to coordinate the dress drive. She is especially looking for plus-size dresses, she said.

"I just hope that they have something for every girl that comes in," DiBenedetto said.

Dresses can be dropped off at Medford High School, or other arrangements can be made by calling Erin DiBenedetto at 781-254-0095.