Queens woman secures prom dresses for teens

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - Making senior prom dreams come true is what Angela Hines works for. Every year, the Far Rockaway, Queens, mother of five and attorney collects gowns for hundreds of girls in her community who can't afford to pay for them on their own.

"I said, 'What can I do to help these girls before they get to the court system?" Angela said. "So I started a nonprofit where I mentor girls and talk to them about life, show them life different from what they see out their project window."

Hence the name of the nonprofit: Project Window.

This prom season, Angela has steamed more than 800 gowns by hand. There are so many dresses, she needs a U-Haul truck to store them all before the giveaway event at Goldie Maple Academy. The girls will go home with a dress, shoes, accessories and even makeup.

The dresses are all colors, lengths, and sizes. Some are brand new and are gently worn, donated by friends and family and even some top bridal shops, including Kleinfeld Bridal in Manhattan and KiKi D's in New Jersey, Angela said.

Angela never made it to her own prom. She was a high school dropout and a teen mom. She eventually went back to school. Now she gives back to the girls who went to her high school, teaching them a valuable life lesson.

The U-Haul is all packed up for Saturday's event at Goldie Maple Academy. It will run from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is open to anyone in need.