According to Newtown High School Girls Inspiring Girls club president and senior Maya Wadhwa, the group’s recent dress drive was a success ahead of the school’s Homecoming dance on November 5.

The club collected donated dresses for girls to wear to the dance, and the dresses were sold individually through the group’s Instagram account, @nhsgirlsinspiring. The dresses were sold for $10, with $5 going to the original owner of the dress and $5 going to funding for future club events.

Following the dance, Maya said she started the dress drive near the start of October after realizing she struggles every year to find a dress for the dance. Normally, Maya said, she would contact friends to borrow a dress, and this year, she decided it was pointless to spend a lot of money on a dress when they could sell their own dresses.

“I thought it would be a really good way to up-cycle,” Maya.

Maya said more than 30 people donated dresses for the effort. There are some dresses left, and Maya said those dresses will continue to be sold through the group’s Instagram account.

This year’s Homecoming dance was held at the The Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury, and roughly 800 students attended, according to the school.