Free Prom Dress Offer Goes Viral, Sparks More Donors

GLEN BURNIE, MD — A Glen Burnie woman who offered to give away a prom dress to someone who could use it has sparked a spirit of generosity that went viral and others have followed her lead. Mika Riddick, 19, and a 2016 graduate of Old Mill High School, first made her offer of a free dress, shoes and a makeup session on March 13 via Twitter.

"HI i’m willing to let a girl in *need* use my prom dress. USE FOR THE NIGHT. I need you to be in MD, specifically glen burnie or close to. I have shoes for you as well as a makeup artist if you need that as well. IM NOT CHARGING YOU ANYTHING, JUST HAVE A GREAT NIGHT!!!!!" Riddick posted on March 13.

The offer drew messages nationwide from other students who praised her and then similar offers from both young women with dresses to share and young men with suits to give to guys who needed help for their prom look. From Annapolis to Chicago to Los Angeles to Brooklyn, others made similar offers of gently used prom attire that could go free to another user.

Mika's tweet has been retweeted more than 13,000 times, with over 38,000 likes by midday Monday.

"Thank you for your kind heart. May you always be blessed with health, peace, love, joy and prosperity," wrote a Twitter user after reading about Mika's offer.

"Doing things like this are so normal to me, I honestly didn't think much of it nor expect all this love lol," Mika replied as her action gained noted. "Thank you guys, especially for getting the word out. I have so many ladies interested im gonna bless as many of you as possible!"

“So many people are inspired to be selfless now in their everyday acts,” Riddick told Yahoo News. “I want things like this to not be so abnormal. As much as others are touched, they have inspired me just as much.”

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Main image used with permission of Mika Riddick from her Twitter account; second image via Shutterstock