Abby’s Closet is offering up more than 8,000 prom dresses free of charge this weekend at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, and all you’ll need to get in is a high school ID.

Young women lined up for the event as early as 8 p.m. Friday outside the Oregon Convention Center, though volunteers for the giveaway didn’t begin processing attendees until 5:30 a.m. Saturday.

There were a few hundred people wrapped around the building by dawn, according to one observer.

Abby Egland, who co-founded Abby’s Closet with her mother, Sally, says while she doesn’t encourage the overnight camp-outs, the nonprofit did hire overnight security and install a Porta-Potty outside the venue.

High School students camped out in front of the Oregon Convention Center Friday night in anticipation of Saturday's open of the prom dress giveaway. Photo courtesy Abby's Closet

Inside the event, makeshift community dressing rooms housed dozens of students, including Delaina Wolmut, 18, who hasn’t worn a dress since she was in fifth grade.

“And that was for Easter,” she said.

The Benson High School senior, who hopes to become a filmmaker, tried on a floor-length black strapless dress with the help of her friends, who were also shopping for prom dresses.

“This is different for me.”

Hours for the giveaway are Saturday until 4 p.m. and from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.

-- Beth Nakamura

Instagram: @bethnakamura

Twitter: @bethnakamura