For her prom on April 9, the freshman at Princeton High School was torn between sparkling-pink and deep-burgundy gowns. The pink number had an open back and fit snugly to her body. The burgundy dress was more formal, flaring at the waist.

Smith wasn’t sure which one to buy, so she enlisted the help of strangers, and her mother, Jackie, at the Smithfield Junior Woman’s Club prom boutique on Saturday. The club had more than 100 gently used prom dresses for sale from $30 to $50. Purses and shoes were only a few bucks.

Smith modeled the pink and burgundy dresses for club members to get their opinion. Both gowns were comfortable, but only one gave Smith the “wow factor” she was looking for. Club members clapped and cheered as Smith announced that the pink dress was going home with her. Smith’s mother wrote a check and wrapped the dress up in a plastic bag.

“Now, it’s on to shoes,” Smith said.

Jackie Smith was pleased with the shopping experience. The Junior Woman’s Club was the first place she and her daughter had gone to look for a prom dress. The pink gown, though used, needs little work, leaving extra cash in mom’s pocket for other prom essentials, such as hair, makeup and shoes.

“It fit well,” Jackie Smith said of her daughter’s dress. “It just needs work on the bottom. The hem has come a little undone, and it’s tattered. She really doesn’t need it to be altered, except for having it cleaned, ironed and fixed at the bottom.”

Other girls came through the building to look at dresses in various sizes, shapes and colors. Carolina Bridal World donated several brand new dresses that had never been worn. The $200 price tags were still hanging off the dresses. Other dresses, some with a 1980s flare, were donated by club members and other women in the community.

Leigh Christian, vice president in charge of fundraising, said money raised from the event would go to charity. Club members are to vote on the charity at their March meeting. The club holds fundraisers throughout the year but had never done a prom boutique until Christian did some research on the Internet.

“I thought it would be different because you always hear people all the time say they are short on money,” Christian said. “That is something parents might not have the money to buy. The goal is to raise money for a charity, but at the same time, we wanted to help girls who can’t afford a new dress.”

Plenty of dresses were left over from the sale. To find out what is available, send an e-mail to smithfieldjuniors@ymail.com.