To give the "happily ever after" it says all girls deserve, a Cartersville tanning salon, with help from two other local businesses, is set to provide prom attire for young ladies unable to buy dresses and accessories.

Total Tan—in the inaugural year of its The Cinderella Project of Cartersville, a nonprofit, volunteer operation based on donations—along with Glitzy Chiks and Melissa & Co. Salon want to assist Cartersville and Bartow County students, as well as girls in surrounding areas. 

"This year, being our first, we anticipate providing over 150 high school girls...with the prom dress of their dreams, and next year we plan to double or triple the [number] of girls we help," Total Tan Salon Manager Melissa Latimer said in a press release. "There are lots of happy, smiling and excited girls at the salon."

To make it all happen, "we would need the local community to pool together as ongoing partners."

The Cinderella Project of Cartersville is asking for donations to provide teens' prom apparel, shoes and such. Requested items include new and lightly-used prom dresses, special occasion dresses, cocktail dresses, dressy shoes, handbags and jewelry.

The nonprofit will collect contributions through March 30 at Total Tan, near QuikTrip on Joe Frank Harris Parkway. Donors should drop off items Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  

As an incentive, Total Tan is giving contributors of dresses and accessories either a free spray tan or a free week of tanning in any of its beds. The trendy, upscale tanning salon offers multiple levels of bed tanning and spray tans, specializing in occasions, such as wedding party sprays, and its mobile tanning spray, “Glow on the Go.”

Prom dresses and all the trimmings would be free to students who can't afford such purchases for their junior or senior formal dances.  

"Total Tan is thrilled to be giving back to the community through this meaningful program," owner Kim Thompson said in the release. "We are happy to provide the means for a special occasion these young women will always remember."

Teen ladies in need of assistance should send a "quick" letter or email to Total Tan at giveyourbodyatotaltan@yahoo.com. For more information, call the tanning salon at 770-382-9695.

Boutique Day to distribute prom attire to local students is set for April 1, with the exception of Cartersville High School girls. The city school's prom is scheduled for early March, and the nonprofit says it will make special arrangements for those students to select outfits on an earlier date. 

Recipient prom goers will get discount coupons and enter drawings for free up-dos and makeup, donated by Melissa & Co. Salon, a full-service salon with offerings ranging from wash-and-go haircuts to creative hair colorings, and waxing and makeup services.

Glitzy Chiks, a color-coordinated accessories shop featuring jewelry, handbags, scarves, tote bags and luggage, contributed items to accent the teens' formal wear.