At Liberty Creek High School, a simple idea shared among friends grew into a powerful community effort—one that helped dozens of students attend milestone events with confidence and joy.

Through the school’s chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), students launched Empower Her Closet, a dress donation event designed to ensure that every student has the opportunity to attend prom, regardless of financial barriers.

Soon, what began as a student project became a community movement.

According to sophomore Mariah Payton, one of the students who helped lead the project, the inspiration came from something simple: the joy of getting ready for big events with friends.

“I was talking with my two friends, Maddie and Josie, about how much we love getting ready together and taking pictures in our dresses,” Payton said. “But dresses can cost five, six, even seven hundred dollars, which is really expensive for a lot of people.”

The group realized that many students might miss out on special school events simply because they could not afford formal attire. From that moment, the idea for Empower Her Closet was born.

Their goal was clear: collect donated dresses from the community and give them to students who needed them.

With guidance from teacher and FCCLA advisor Stephanie Williams, along with advisor Chef Meagan Stewart—who organized the food table—the students quickly got to work spreading the word. They hung posters throughout the school, shared information across social media, and partnered with other schools to distribute flyers.

The response from the community was overwhelming, and within weeks, donations poured in.

“We actually had to extend our donation period because people kept bringing dresses,” Payton explained.

By the time the collection period ended, the students had gathered approximately 370 dresses, many of them brand new or high-end formal gowns. As word spread, some community members even purchased dresses specifically to donate.

In addition to FCCLA, the students partnered with the Sumner County Schools Family Resource Center, which played a key role in storing the dresses and organizing the event.

Additional local partners stepped in to help create a welcoming and memorable experience for attendees. Rainbow Shops in Gallatin donated dresses and shoes, while The Little Tea House in Gallatin provided pastries and treats.

Together, these contributions helped transform the event into something truly special.

“We really wanted it to feel like a boutique,” Williams said. “Even though it was held in the central office gym, we wanted the girls to feel celebrated.”

When the event finally arrived, students were welcomed to browse racks filled with dresses of every style and color. By the end of the day, it was clear the experience had gone far beyond clothing.

Attendees could also choose from donated shoes, purses, hair accessories, makeup, and beauty products. Once they found the perfect dress, students were invited to take photos at a special photo station to capture the moment.

“We tried to make it as comfortable as possible for everyone,” Payton said.

The impact of the event was immediate—and emotional.

Approximately 70 students selected dresses, many sharing heartfelt stories about how the opportunity changed their plans.

“So many people came up to us and told us they didn’t think they were going to be able to go to their events,” Payton said. “Now they can go because of this.”

For the organizers, those conversations made all the effort worthwhile.

The project also reflected a culture of kindness and support within Liberty Creek High School.

Students from the FCCLA chapter and across the school volunteered their time to organize dresses, decorate the event space, transport donations, and assist attendees. In total, about 10 to 12 student volunteers worked directly at the event, while many others helped behind the scenes.

“We all have such kind hearts at Liberty Creek,” Payton said. “Everyone just wanted to help make it special.”

As a result of generous donations, hundreds of dresses remain available through the Family Resource Center, ensuring the initiative will continue to benefit students.

Organizers are already planning to bring Empower Her Closet back next year, with hopes of expanding the effort even further. One future goal is to include formalwear for boys, such as suits and tuxedos.

“It’s something we definitely want to grow,” Williams said. “There are so many students who could benefit.”

For the students who organized Empower Her Closet, its success proved that a small idea—when fueled by compassion and community support—can create meaningful change.

By turning generosity into action, Liberty Creek students helped ensure that more young people can experience the excitement of milestone school events with confidence and pride.

And for dozens of students who found the perfect dress that day, the memory will last long after the event itself.

To see pictures from February's event and follow along for next year's, check out the Facebook page.