TRACY — Getting dressed up for prom is something that not every teen can afford. But area residents can help with that, Jaci Knipe said.

This month, Knipe, a Tracy resident, is working with the Wheels Across the Prairie Museum to hold “Cinderella’s Closet.” The event will give prom-aged students a chance to find formal attire at no cost to them, she said.

“If it ends up being a hit, I will do it again,” Knipe said.

Knipe said donations of formal attire, shoes and accessories could be brought to the museum during its normal operating hours beginning Thursday. Donations can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, she said. Knipe said people can also donate clothing all the way up to March 13.

The Cinderella’s Closet event will be held March 14-16 at the museum.

Knipe said the inspiration to hold a local prom boutique event came partly from watching a TikTok user who made donations to a prom dress drive in Alabama.

“I thought, with the economy the way it is, why couldn’t I do something like that for my community?” Knipe said. She also remembered the experiences of high school students who weren’t able to afford a formal dress for prom.

Knipe said she brought her idea to the Mamas of Marshall group on Facebook.

“I got a lot of good feedback,” she said. She also looked for a possible venue, and visited with Wheels Across the Prairie Museum director Jon Wendorff. The museum was a great fit, she said.

Knipe said donations of both male and female formal attire would be accepted for the Cinderella’s Closet event.

“We want a variety of sizes, because not every body is the same size,” she said.

Prom-age students will be able to choose clothing from Cinderella’s Closet with a current student ID, Knipe said. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 14, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 15 and 16.

“I really hope that it’s a hit,” Knipe said of Cinderella’s Closet. If the event is successful enough, she could try holding similar events for other formal dances, like high school homecoming and winter dances.