Despite lingering COVID-19 restrictions, prom season is right around the corner. With it come visions of glamorous gowns.

Not knowing whether high school junior and senior proms will take place across the Lehigh Valley this spring, teens can shop for a dress on select dates in April at the 14th Annual YWCA Pop-Up Prom Shop.

The organization, whose aim is to eliminate racism and empower women, is choosing to continue its annual event, safety measures in place and offer showstopping dresses for an eye-popping bargain price of $20.

“There is still a lot of uncertainty about what the prom season will look like this year due to the pandemic,” YWCA Program Director Jen Wanisko said.

“Although the Pop-Up Shop will look different this year, we are proud to help teens shop safely and shop smart, whether they are attending a school prom, gathering with a small group of friends or simply planning a photo shoot in their backyard.”

One difference with this year’s shop is its location.

Typically held in large venues with ample room and time to browse the collection of gently used gowns donated by the public, this year’s shop will take place at the YWCA’s Bethlehem headquarters at 3895 Adler Place, Suite 180, Hanover Township.

There will be cabana-type spaces for personal changing rooms,

Another lucky twist this year is all the dresses in the shop’s inventory are brand-new, thanks to a generous donation of 1,400 stunning floral, taffeta, lace, long and tea-length dresses, tags still attached, from Macy’s Lehigh Valley.

There’s a style for every taste, sizes 2-22. Teens can bring a parent or other helper to browse and choose up to two dresses.

One-hour time slots can be reserved online at www.ywcabethlehem.org. A $10 reservation fee required to book the appointment is credited toward the dress cost at checkout.

Rhonda McGeary, of Bethlehem, volunteered last year at the event.

“I just really enjoyed it,” McGeary said, who has a women’s fashion retail background and helped organize this year’s donation from Macy’s at a work party in November 2020 at Budget Store & Lock in Bath, where the dresses are being stored. “It’s really great to see young ladies look and feel beautiful, and the confidence it brings when you like the way you look.”

Christina Carlin, of Nazareth, brought her dad Bill along to pitch in with the dress organizing as part of Family Volunteer Day, held annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and is considered an opportunity for families to work together to serve their community. A student at Nazareth Middle School, Carlin found out about the service opportunity through Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley.

“It appealed to me because I did sorting of clothes and toiletries for a lady veterans group in the past,” she said. Carlin is a member of National Junior Honor Society and was also meeting volunteer requirements as part of her membership.

Wanisko gathered volunteers in November 2020 to assist in the supersized task of pulling rolling racks filled with the gowns out of several storage units and organizing them by size and style. It was a two-day commitment with the weather in full cooperation.

“I just love dresses, and it appeals to me that we are helping young girls get a dress of their dreams for the prom,” Marci Wehr, of Allentown said. It was her first time volunteering for the event.

YWCA Pop-Up Shop committee members have met more than once to try to figure out whether to even host the event this year. It usually takes around 40 people to pull it together, Wanisko said. Many volunteers may not even want to come out, with COVID-19, she said.

The group eventually settled on a solution to keep with the spirit of prom season combined with thoughtful safety guidelines.

“We have an amazing inventory of new gowns available and we hope that Lehigh Valley families will visit us in April,” Wanisko said. “During these difficult times, teens who may have planned to shop retail for the prom season may be looking for more affordable options. A beautiful dress for just $20 is perfect, especially if there is still a question whether their school will hold a traditional prom.”