Alpha Grabba Dress is a yearly philanthropy event hosted by the Alpha Gamma Delta (AGD) sorority, allowing both students and members of the community to buy and sell gently used formal dresses at an affordable price.

During one of two drop-off dates, sellers can enter short dresses for $5 and long dresses for $10. Proceeds from dress entries were donated to Alpha Gamma Delta’s Fight Against Hunger effort, partnered with programs like Feeding America.

The house is then set up with changing rooms and clothing racks, becoming its own makeshift mall. 

AGD members guided shoppers through the racks of dresses to find the right sizes and styles. When a shopper decided not to keep a piece they’d tried on, members would immediately help to return it to the rack.

Jolee Morgan, Alpha Gamma Delta vice president of philanthropy and a sophomore speech pathology major from Tennessee, said it’s this level of care that makes the event extremely popular, attracting individuals from beyond Jonesboro.

“Everybody in the community and as far away as Tennessee and Texas has even come to shop these dresses as well,” Morgan said.

This year, more than 300 dresses were entered, with sellers given the option to donate unsold gowns to a local high school in need, furthering the impact of the event beyond the sale itself.

The day not only gave shoppers the chance to browse formal dresses, but also included a pop-up from a local boutique, Velvet Fray. The boutique offers size-inclusive fashion and a welcoming environment where all customers can feel confident while expressing themselves.

Emma Hardy, representative for Velvet Fray and a freshman elementary education major from Paragould, said the boutique participated in the event to bring the community together.

“We’re here to bring the community together and help girls find the perfect accessories for prom and just help them feel good in what they’re wearing,” Hardy said.

Combining the formal dresses and boutique created a full shopping experience for guests, giving them a chance to find all their accessories in one place. 

Maddie Kennedy, a member of Alpha Gamma Delta and a sophomore nursing major from Tennessee, said Alpha Grabba Dress helps high schoolers to plan for upcoming formal events.

“We’ve had a lot of people walk away with an idea of what they want their dresses to be for, like prom, winter dance, formal,” Kennedy said.

Because of this, the event also makes participating in philanthropy more accessible, the turnout exceeding expectations.

“Today has been very successful,” Kennedy said. “We’ve had a lot of people walk away with their dresses.” 

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