Every girl wants to feel like Cinderella on prom night, with a dress, jewelry, shoes, purse, flowers – the works. However, I don't know anyone who has a fairy godmother, and we all know these items can add up. A dress alone can cost $300.

Not everyone can afford the expenses of prom and thus, many can't go. Fortunately there are a number of organizations that help young women who couldn't otherwise afford a prom dress find one at no cost. By donating a dress, you can give a young woman all the fun and romance of this unforgettable event that many of us take for granted.

How many girls wear their prom dress more than once? Speaking from experience, it is very difficult to find another event that it is appropriate for. It's a safe bet that most of us have at least one prom dress hanging in our closet, waiting to be worn again. The money and time spent on the prom makes it a shame to leave that gorgeous gown and matching accessories to collect dust.

Here's where the community service comes in. Organizations that collect prom dresses for charity are using the current interest in recycling and green living to help raise awareness that clothing can also be recycled. Donating formal dresses is becoming popular in high schools and even colleges.

Operation Fairy Dust, the Glass Slipper Project, and DonateMyDress.org are just a few of the many programs across the United States that accept used prom gowns and accessories. They have different requirements, but they all have the same goal: to play fairy godmother in many girls' Cinderella stories. They give these young women an opportunity they wouldn't have otherwise.

If you would like to donate a prom dress, look in your local paper or search online for organizations near you. It's easiest when you can simply drop off the dress and accessories, but mailing them is an option too.

Too many girls are missing out on their special night because of the inability to pay. Let's change that! By simply donating items that you no longer use, you can help another young woman experience the fairy tale too.