Finding the perfect prom dress only took Caisie Helton of Deer Creek about 45 minutes. And it was the first one she tried on.

Better yet, she had a personal shopper who followed her with an armload of dresses, zipped and unzipped and finally tucked the strapless powder blue gown into a garment bag.

And there was no charge.

That's because the first time prom-goer shopped at Belle of the Ball, a local volunteer effort that's gathered about 80 new or gently worn prom dresses for area teens.

University High School senior Courtney McDowell started the program after taking calls from women who wanted to donate their dresses to Plato's Closet, where she works.

Although the store doesn't take formals, she knew about Chicago's Glass Slipper Project, which offers girls free prom gowns along with accessories and makeup.

With the help of a couple of her friends, she started rounding up dresses and posted flyers all over town asking for current styles in like-new condition.

Although she tried to get high-schoolers to part with last year's gowns, "it was impossible," she said. "They have younger sisters."

Nearly 80 gowns are artfully displayed in a former exercise studio in Bloomington's Game Time Gym II. There are ball-gown styles and slender classics in jewel tones, citrus colors and basic black, one with a Filene's Basement tag still hanging on it. Sizes range from zero to 15/16.

Helton, a 14-year-old Mackinaw freshman, selected dresses with input from her prom date, Matt Taylor Jr. of Deer Creek, and his mother, Sherry.

"Go for the color you like," she said, as Helton pulled out the beaded powder blue dress.

Matt came along because he usually helps Helton, his girlfriend of "four months and 12 days," pick out her clothes at the mall. But this was different, he said, as he patiently waited on a pink striped tufted chair for 45 minutes.

Although Helton's dress fit, Belle of the Ball will pick up the cost of alterations with donations from members of McDowell's church, Eastview Christian Church in Bloomington.

One member donated the cost of a new gown when a girl couldn't find her size among the donated dresses.

Shopping is by appointment, and Belle of the Ball will help with hairstyling and makeup too.

"We want to help them with their whole prom experience, not just give them a dress and say goodbye," McDowell said.

Kylie Fancher of Bloomington doesn't know who her prom date will be but she has a silky hot pink dress hanging in her closet. She found out about Belle of the Ball from a school office flyer and decided that was a better option than spending $300 for a navy blue polka-dotted dress she fell in love with at a department store.

"I could have spent the money, but I wasn't planning on wearing it next year, so that was a lot," she said.

After the prom, dresses can be donated back. McDowell, who's considering a fashion merchandising career, is already building next year's inventory.

As Helton stood on a chunky platform in front of a sloped mirror, she smoothed the waist on her gown, turned right, then left and inched up the scooped-out back.

"It does look good," her date said.

That's all it took.

To find out more about donating or getting a dress, contact McDowell at Belleoftheball2007@gmail.com.