Sandy Clifton remembers the first dress well.

When Inglemoor High senior Sarah McFarlane arrived at her home to pick up her senior-portrait order, she also dropped off a short brown, strapless dress that features a piece of teal fabric lining the center of the dress.

“It was good quality. I was so excited. She immediately wanted to give — she’s still in school,” said an amazed Clifton, a Kenmore photographer who runs the nonprofit organization called Donate A Dress.

“I had a bunch of dresses that I probably would never wear again,” McFarlane said. “I thought it would be for a good cause. It felt pretty good to help her start it off.”

Clifton wants to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged and low-income high-school girls.

She explains that, during her photography work, she would occasionally hear of students who were unable to attend their prom or other special events because they could not afford to buy a dress.

“This didn’t sit well with me,” said Clifton, and after giving it some thought, she put her business head, generous heart and a spare bedroom to work.

The Donate A Dress concept is simple: if you have a gently used, or new prom dress that you are no longer using, you can donate it to Clifton. She will see that Northshore, Eastside and Snohomish County girls in need have the chance to “shop” the racks and choose a free dress for their prom, homecoming or other special event.

Clifton has already collected 25 dresses through little more than word of mouth and the Donate A Dress Facebook Page. One local mom dropped off five dresses on her covered porch in a garment bag, and Clifton has received three more in the mail from former local high-school students who posed for senior portraits.

Although those three girls are now away at college, they have befriended Clifton on Facebook and heard about Donate A Dress.

“It’s really touching when I see the handwriting on the box, and I say, ‘Oh, wow,’” Clifton said. “This gal sent the dress, she packaged it herself, took the time out of her college schedule to send it here. I open the box and see how pretty it is … she’s willing to let go of it, to let another girl experience her dress. I picture the (new) girl wearing the dress and how she might feel.”

But as she sees it, dresses are just the beginning. “I hope to add shoes, costume jewelry and other accessories for a complete ensemble for each girl. It would be amazing if local hair and makeup stylists would donate their services, as well as coupons or gift certificates from local restaurants.”  She is determined to ensure that the only obstacle a girl must overcome for prom is finding the right escort.

Prom season is fast approaching, and Clifton has set a goal to collect as many dresses as possible by March 15 (she accepts donations all year round, though). She wants to have the first “shopping event” the last week of March. She says “The bigger the selection we have, the more young ladies we can help.”

As Clifton says, “Giving to Donate A Dress is like being the Fairy Godmother to Cinderella — you’re making girls’ dreams come true.”

People can donate dresses, shoes, dry cleaning, mending/alterations, printing for fliers and cards, hair styling, makeup and more. Contact Clifton through the Donate A Dress Web site (www.DonateADress.org) or Facebook Page.

Clifton believes that prom is an important milestone in every girl’s life, and everyone can relate to Donate A Dress, even her fellow male and female jury-duty members whom she discussed her organization with during a break in downtown Seattle recently.

“I don’t want them to miss out,” Clifton said of the girls and prom, “just because they can’t afford a dress.”