Harrisburg After-Prom Committee hosting formal dress fundraiser

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Do you have a gently-used formal dress that could bring in some extra money at a sale? This week there is a good opportunity to match the dress with a new owner.

The Harrisburg High School After-Prom Committee is planning a formal dress sale 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Bonnell Gym in Harrisburg High School. The day before the sale, from 5 to 7 p.m., people are invited to bring formal dresses to Bonnell Gym for consignment. The consignment price is $5 with proceeds going toward the after-prom party.

"You set the price you want for the dress," Katrinka Stevers said.

"You might get lucky and sell your dress. If not, you're only out $5."

Volunteers at the sale will make sure dresses are handled well and not abused, Stevers said.

Cash is preferred for purchases on Saturday, Stevers said.

Stevers has noticed an upswing in purchasing pre-owned prom dresses.

"I think a lot of parents, with the economy the way it is, now will look for a way to save money," Stevers said.

A lot of freshman and sophomore girls invited to prom save money for their junior and senior dresses by buying used dresses for the first two events, Stevers said.

Stevers said parents and girls should not be shy about what sort of dresses they bring - some of the older dresses are back in style, Stevers said.

Several of the dresses worn to the Oscars looked like late 1980s and early 1990s formal wear.