WARNER ROBINS -- A few years ago, members of the student council at Warner Robins High School approached their sponsor, English teacher Barbara Hilliard, out of concern for some of their classmates.

They heard some students wanted to attend the prom but couldn’t because they couldn’t afford it. Hilliard helped them explore some ways they might help, and out of that was born the Demon Dress Drive.

They started collecting used formal wear and offering the dresses for sale at a fraction of the cost new.

Saturday marked the seventh year of the drive. It has become so popular the buyers were waiting at the school more than four hours before the sale started. The students collected the dresses throughout the year, and this year had about 200.

Students came from throughout Middle Georgia to buy dresses for about $30 that could cost $200 or more new.

Shaquore Jordan, a Dodge County High School junior, came with her mom, and they bought a dress for Shaquore to wear to the school prom. She said it would have been difficult to afford a new dress.

“I think it’s really nice of them to help the students out like this,” said Shaquore’s mother, Vicki Jordan.

This was the first year they had heard about the dress drive, and they plan to return again next year.

The drive not only helps students in need, but proceeds from the sale go to charity.

This year the money raised will be donated to Hodac and the Houston County Foster Children’s Fund.

The drive was so busy Saturday that buyers had to first get tickets and wait outside, so there wouldn’t be too many at once in the sale area.

Portable dressing rooms were available.

Hilliard said the sale is not only for prom dresses but any kind of formal wear.

Dresses for middle school students to wear in pageants are also available.

The school provides an air-conditioned storage room to keep the dresses during the year, and Hilliard said they can always use more if anyone has a dress to donate.

“We just depend on the goodwill of the community,” she said.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.