Hazleton Police Officer Jessica Surkin stood in front of racks of prom dresses inside the city’s police station.

She paused on one, two, three, adjusting some on their hangers before pulling out one with a green tag — indicating it was brand-new.

Many of the new dresses — several with delicate beadwork or sheer cutouts — retailed for $500 or more, she said.

But these dresses aren’t for sale — they’re free.

Surkin fashioned the idea for a prom dress drive as an outreach of the city police department, offering any student from any area school district a chance to find their “dream dress.”

The Stacy Marino-Walton Prom Dress Boutique opened the first week of March, in memory of a Hazleton Area School District teacher’s aide who lost her life to domestic violence in 2012.

Continuing a legacy

This is actually the second year the department hosted a dress drive, said Surkin, the city police’s public information officer.

“Last year was kind of like our practice run to see if it was something that was needed, if people were interested,” she said. “Once we found out that it was needed, we decided to give the drive actual meaning.

“(Marino-Walton) was somebody who would have done something like this herself,” Surkin said.

A sign outside the 13th Street side of the station, reads, “Continuing her legacy, by still reaching students.”

Placing her name on the dress drive also opens the door to conversations about domestic violence when someone asks about Walton, Surkin said.

“We can tie the two together … (for) an educational moment for these high schoolers,” Surkin said. “What are the signs of domestic violence? What are your options if you’re in a domestic relationship? What kind of help can you seek?

“It’s a good learning tool,” she said.

Someone might leave the boutique and Google her name, Surkin said, find stories about her and prompt them to talk to a counselor about what may be going on in their life.

Foremost, the dress drive and boutique helps families who might not be able to afford a dress for prom.

Last year, the drive was able to help about 15 teens find their prom dress — some from as far away as the Lake Lehman School District, which straddles northern Luzerne and Wyoming counties, Surkin said.

Social media helped spread the word, she said.

A large selection

More than 300 dresses hang on multiple racks — all sorted by color — inside the station’s vestibule. Officers’ restrooms shift to changing rooms for the teens and their entourages, she said.

The dresses, which vary in length, style and color, also range in size from 0 to 26W, Surkin said. Some previously worn dresses may have been altered and may not be true to size, Surkin cautioned.

Those coming to look for dresses must bring someone to help them try on the dresses. Officers won’t help shoppers in and out of dresses, she said.

Surkin has helped with finding the right size and certain styles, she said, noting she’s learned how to judge the size needed by the way a certain corseted-back dress fits them.

Sometimes, friends, family and more come along to find a dress, and other times, it’s just the teen and a friend.

Surkin said she can accommodate two parties at one time.

A community responds

Surkin made 12 appointments to look for dresses in the first 72 hours of opening the free boutique this year — with some young ladies hoping to get the best selection early.

She knows from experience some teens will come looking for a dress at the very last minute as well — as they never expected to go to prom.

So far this year, at least one mother and daughter left in tears — the happy kind of tears, she said.

The young lady not only found a dress, but also had a pair shoes and purse that matched, Surkin said, pointing out that the boutique did have some accessories from last year’s drive.

“So, she walked out with shoes, a purse and a dress,” she said. “The mom was bawling her eyes out. She said, ‘You don’t know how much weight you (lifted) off my shoulders. I had no idea how I was going to get her a dress for prom.’”

The daughter was also crying, because she didn’t think she was going to be able to go to the prom.

“She was so ecstatic,” Surkin said. “She ended up getting a really pretty dress.”

Surkin designed the dress drive, but acknowledges it wouldn’t be possible without the blessing of the city’s police chief and administration, and all those who donated dresses.

“It’s really important that they know that we do appreciate it,” she said.

Those interested in finding a free prom dress can find available times on the Hazleton City Police Department’s Facebook page. Surkin will also be posting Saturday dates in April.

Appointments can be made by emailing Surkin at jsurkin@hazletonpd.org.