High school prom is a rite of passage for many teenagers.

For girls, finding a perfect dress is a precursor to a perfect evening, according to Glacier High School seniors Hannah Davis and Nikia Whiteaker.

“For girls, yeah, definitely, for sure,” Davis said. “And finding a date.”

“Finding a date is the biggest part,” Whiteaker said.

But the dress — usually worn for one night — can come with a price tag into the hundreds of dollars, making it cost-prohibitive for some teens and a deciding factor in attending prom.

The 2013 Glacier Prom Committee, which Davis and Whiteaker are part of, wants to break that financial barrier by inviting students to raid My Sister’s Closet.

My Sister’s Closet is the prom-dress donation drive the committee organized to help girls cut costs by providing them the opportunity to select free dresses. This year’s committee is made up of four seniors and two representatives from each of the other grades.

“I know the big worry is finding a dress for girls and guys figuring how to pay for tickets,” Davis said. “We just want everybody to be able to have a chance to come to prom.”

Whether students are on a budget or just eco-conscious and believe in the three environmental “R’s” of reduce, re-use and recycle, My Sister’s Closet is open to all students freshman through seniors.

“We want to make it special for everybody,” Whiteaker said.

As the name My Sister’s Closet implies, the intent is not to attach any stigmas to the prom dress giveaway.

They want the experience to be as comfortable as sisters sharing clothes, according to Hannah’s mother, Natalie Davis, who has five sisters.

Natalie Davis will be one of the parents helping girls shop when My Sister’s Closet is open during lunch periods Monday through Friday in the school conference room. She said parents will have extra materials on hand and tips for altering the dresses.

“We’re going to have a box of goodies and we’re going to show the girls how they could adapt the dress for themselves, like with different ribbon or neckline or embellishment — show them how they can make it their own,” Natalie Davis said.

My Sister’s Closet is collecting donations of prom dresses, accessories and shoes until the week of the March 16 prom. In turn, girls can find their perfect outfit free of charge.

Hannah Davis and Whiteaker are banking on dress donations from students who previously attended prom.

“We know a lot of girls in our class have gone to prom before and we knew they would probably bring them in for the good cause,” Hannah Davis said.

After the organizers made school announcements and sent emails about My Sister’s Closet on Monday, a few donated dresses started coming in and were displayed at a prom expo Wednesday at the high school.

“We just opened up and we’re trying to get the word out that we’re open until prom,” Whiteaker said.

At the expo, a red carpet led students to different local businesses showcasing items and services that are part of the prom tradition, such as clothing, corsages, dining and tips on hair and makeup.

Senior Kendall Sattler came up with the prom expo and modeled it after a bridal expo her mother recently attended. She said it’s an opportunity for younger students to get an idea of what to get and where to shop.

 “It can be intimidating for freshman and sophomores and we wanted to get them excited about prom,” Sattler said.

My Sister’s Closet will be open for girls to shop for dresses during lunch periods Monday through Friday. People who wish to donate prom dresses, accessories and shoes can drop items off at the high school front office from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.