GRAND JUNCTION — Mesa State College junior Cathy Whitcomb wants local high school girls to enjoy prom as much as she did.

“To me, prom was like one of my biggest memories. I’ll remember that forever,” Whitcomb said.

Some local teens may forgo prom this year because they’ll have trouble scraping together the money for a dress. That’s why Whitcomb and fellow members of Mesa State’s sociology club are collecting formal dresses from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in the school’s Campbell College Center.

Club members collected about 20 dresses Tuesday. Some came in fistfuls — one woman donated seven — while others came one at a time. Sociology club member Desiray Barnes, a junior at Mesa State, donated four dresses.

“The expense of prom is kind of overwhelming for a lot of people,” Barnes said. “The expenses add up and not having to buy a $200 dress on top of that is helpful.”

Recognizing tuxedos also come with a hefty price tag, the club will give away 10 gift certificates to Men’s Wearhouse valued at $50 apiece.

A giveaway date and location haven’t been chosen, but could be determined as soon as Thursday. The dresses will likely be handed out over a couple days at the college, since it’s a neutral location for all the high schools in the Grand Valley, said sociology club member and Mesa State senior Franki Cummings.

The sociology club will accept dresses from students and the public in the next few weeks at the Social and Behavioral Sciences office in room 408 of Lowell Heiny Hall at Mesa State. Bridesmaid’s dresses and other formal dresses are welcome.

The club considered putting an age limit on the dresses, but will take whatever people have to offer and recipients can alter the dresses to their liking.

“Someone could do a ‘Pretty in Pink’ thing and make it their own,” Cummings said.

Reach Emily Anderson at eanderson@gjfreepress.com.