Good morning and Happy Wednesday, Asheville. 👋 DYK today is National Promposal Day? It’s been designated as such since 2016, and it’s known as a day where over the top, and often viral, invitations to prom take place. These invites, which can often mimic grand marriage proposals, cost the average American family with teenage children $324 in 2015.

While that cost isn’t cheap — it’s akin to bills or a car payment for many of us — it’s much smaller than the average cost of acquiring the items you need to attend prom, like dresses, jewelry, purses, and/or other accessories. According to a 2015 study by Visa, American families spent more than $900 on average on their prom-going children that year, and the cost shows no sign of diminishing significantly anytime soon.

So what about the kids whose families can’t afford prom dresses? Fortunately, there’s an excellent resource right here in Asheville: Eblen Charities, a nonprofit which supports needy families in Western North Carolina through multiple initiatives, including Operation Prom Dress.

Now in its ninth year, Operation Prom Dress takes place Sat., Mar. 21 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Eblen Charities warehouse (80 Westgate Pkwy.) and features over 500 new + gently used dresses arranged by color in sizes 0-24. In addition to dresses, they also offer shoes, jewelry, and accessories.

You can stop into Eblen Charities (50 Westgate Pkwy.) anytime to donate your formalwear — they accept donations year round — including men’s clothes. Protip: because there are no changing rooms, women must change out in the open, so there are no men are allowed at Operation Prom Dress.

Best of all? The dresses are totally free, so kids in need can get the dress of their dreams no matter what. And that, in my humble opinion, is priceless.

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