LAKESIDE PARK, Ky. -- Aelysia Shaw's fairy godmother arrived the moment she needed her most.
"I was talking about it to my mom the other day," the 17-year-old Lloyd High School senior said. "About how I don't think I can afford a prom dress because I don't have the money."
That was when she heard about Cinderella's Closet, an organization that helps high schoolers get dresses, jewelry and shoes in time for prom -- and, unlike in the fairy tale, lets them keep the ensemble forever.
"The girls that are referred to us are sometimes denied a lot of things in life, and we don't want them to be denied this experience," Cinderella's Closet founder Erin Peterson said.
Every prom season brings a bigger smile to her face, she said, because of the number of girls she's able to help have an unforgettable night. Aelysia Shaw is among about 400 who will get dresses from the organization this year.
Before the magic happens, however, there's a lot of work the fairy godmothers put in on the front end. Volunteers gather around 2,000 gowns for girls to choose from as well as assembling the selection of available shoes and jewelry.
If this didn't exist, Shaw said, "I probably wouldn't have actually had a dress, and I don't know if I'd actually be able to go to prom."
Click here if you’re interested in donating or volunteering. You can also connect with Cinderella’s Closet on Facebook. All donations accepted after March 10 will be held for next year.
Cinderella’s Closet is a ministry of Immanuel United Methodist Church.
