Dozens of young women, from high school students to brides-to-be, lined the halls of Penn's Peak on Wednesday for the annual Blue Ridge Communications Prom and Wedding Dress Sale.

This year's sale raised $1,400 for the local chapter of Dream Come True, a nonprofit organization that works to fulfill the dreams of children who are seriously, chronically or terminally ill. Since its inception, over $15,000 has been raised.Many prom dresses sold for just $10, with more intricate and wedding dresses selling for more, but still steeply below retail price.Shoes, purses and jewelry were also available for sale."It's a two-fold event. It not only helps out girls that might not be able to afford a $300 or $400 prom dress, it also helps to raise funds for Dream Come True," said Julianne Farina, the sale organizer coordinator and marketing and public relations coordinator for Blue Ridge Communications."People can purchase a really nice dress for prom, a unique dress that's different from what other people might have bought, at a reasonable cost. They can still look beautiful for the prom."This is the sixth year that Blue Ridge Communications has held the sale and part of an ongoing effort to support Dream Come True."It's such a great cause. These children are terminally or seriously ill. Having a dream granted gives them something to look forward to. If we can do a little something to brighten up their day, it's important," said Farina.Farina's office begins receiving calls about donating and purchasing dresses months before the sale each year.The first girls in line, high school and college students with family members, arrived 90 minutes before the doors opened to ensure they would have first pick of the dresses."We've been looking at a couple different stores (for prom dresses), and they're a bit pricey," said Julie Pako of Brodheadsville, who was at the sale with her daughter Emily Loudon, 18. "We heard about this place and that it benefits Dream Come True, and knew we had to come here."Also waiting in line was Dream Come True recipient Kristal Nemeroff, 26, who was granted the dream of going to Disney World in 1996. Nemeroff has osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder characterized by fragile bones that break easily."I was 8 years old (when granted the dream). It was the best time of my life. No hospitals, no needles, no doctors. It was a time to relax and have fun," she said. "Dream Come True is a great organization. It really can change lives, and it's something that these kids will never forget."This was the second year Nemeroff was at the dress sale. She was looking for a formal dress for the Dream Come True telethon in November, which she helps to co-host, or a fun dress for special occasions."I love this event," she added. "It's awesome."Farina thanked those who attended the sale, and also the many people who donated items. Approximately 300 dresses were donated this year. Because every item is donated, every dollar spent during the dress sale goes to Dream Come True."Without the people donating, we wouldn't be able to have an event like this," she said. "It's a nice excuse to clean out your closet and make room for another dress you might want to buy."The Blue Ridge Chapter of Dream Come True serves children who live in Carbon County and parts of Schuylkill, Lehigh and Monroe counties. Dream Come True has fulfilled over 1,000 dreams throughout the greater Lehigh Valley since its founding in 1984, including 55 within Carbon County.Monetary donations can be sent to Dream Come True, Blue Ridge Chapter, P.O. Box 344, Palmerton, PA 18071 or online at www.dreamcometrue-brc.org.