I Bought a $12 Prom Dress from a Thrift Store –

I found a stunning midnight blue prom dress at Goodwill for $12, a treasure my grandma and I discovered while “treasure hunting.” As she altered it, I found a note hidden in the lining: a mother’s plea to her daughter Ellie, apologizing for giving her up at five and asking forgiveness, with an address. Ellie never saw it—the dress ended up donated. Determined, I learned my teacher, Eleanor (Ellie), had worn it to her prom, unaware of its origins. I showed her the note,

and she broke down, overwhelmed. We drove six hours to the address, where Ellie reunited tearfully with her mother. They thanked me with a $20,000 check, insisting I take it for giving them a second chance. That money, alongside my scholarship, let me pursue college without financial strain, turning my potential into reality. A $12 dress changed three lives, proving Grandma’s wisdom: you’d be surprised what people give away.