WASHINGTON — After the dress, the shoes and accessories- the price for prom can put a hole in a pocket. However, Family Matters, hosting its 5th annual prom dress give away – Dresses4Dreams – aims to provide relief for families in need.

More than 500 dresses were donated for the give away. Young girls walked out with not only a free dress but also shoes and accessories.

Before allowing the girls to pick out dresses and try then on, Family Matters featured an HIV/AIDS seminar to inform on the severity of the disease, specifically in the Washington area. The idea is to make prom night, a safe night.

Masada Johnson, program manager of Family Matters said while her group knows it’s not the only organization giving away prom dresses, she believes it takes more than one to accomplish the goal of providing for families that need help.

In addition to the Dresses4Dreams, they host Suited4Men for young men to have the same opportunity. To save money, and go to prom in “confidence and style”.