Thief Steals Prom Dresses From Amesbury Charity

AMESBURY (CBS) - Strangers have pitched in to help after a thief stole prom dresses from a local charity.

The organization in Amesbury gives free dresses to teen girls who can't afford one for their big night.

"The first year, I gave out 17 dresses," Betty Vitale says, "which was amazing, I thought, for the first year. Second year, we gave out 54 dresses."

Betty Vitale remembers the first dress she donated. "She loved her prom. I can still remember her prom. I still remember the day she went to her prom," Vitale says.

She parted with that dress years after her daughter Tammi passed away in a car accident, donating it to another young woman.

"The first dress I ever gave out, the girl actually won queen at the prom that year," Vitale says.

Now, 20 years after their daughter's death, the Vitales run "Tammi's Closet."

"It's just amazing to help these girls," Vitale says.

They give away dresses to those who couldn't otherwise afford them. But this year, just before Betty opened for the season last week, she was robbed.

"When I walked in, I looked here and this was empty. And then that rack, the middle was empty, too," she said. "I started crying and I said, 'People stole dresses from me? Are you serious? They're free! Why would you steal a dress that's free?"

Fifteen dresses were taken, but since then people have donated dozens. In fact, Betty's inventory is now well more than 200. So many more dresses, so many more girls helped than had this never happened.

"Betty I have eight dresses, Betty I have five dresses, Betty, I have six dresses, I have a $50 donation, I have a $20 donation. I'm like, whoa!"

Hanger donations are now accepted.

"I don't know where I'm going to put them all, but I'll find room, I'll find room," Vitale says.