Just like Cinderella's fantastical fairy godmother, Mia McKenzie wishes to see her high school pals attend the ball – but what on earth will they wear?

With a Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo – we need you, dear reader. Get that dress or suit you never wear out onto the dance floor and make a young student's happily ever after come true for the night.

"What we're aiming to do is gather dresses and suits from the community for less fortunate students who can't afford to buy their own dresses or even hire them,” says Mia, a dedicated senior member of Ōtūmoetai College's special events committee.

'Our school puts on the cheapest ball, and the cheapest we can get the tickets to is $80 and if you think of trying to get a dress or suit on top of that, it can turn out to be extremely expensive.”

Student Mia McKenzie says they are in particular need of more suits for students wanting to attend the ball. Photo: John Borren.

For some Year 12-13 students, Mia says: 'They just can't lean on their parents or they just don't have enough time to work for something like that”.

The Year 13 student attended her school ball last year wearing one of her mum's dresses.

'It was quite special for me to wear it. It was also nice to not give in to the hugely-priced dresses that always jump out to you online.

'When I saw myself all done up for the ball I felt really beautiful – something that I don't feel day-to-day. I felt really nice in pictures, and felt especially proud when I was with my boyfriend, as it's always nice to get dressed up.”

She wants her classmates to have that same magical moment too.

'Universities don't always put on big ball events and that's the only time these students can have that experience of dressing up formally and have a formal event.

'It's also just a nice time to grow as a group as well, you know we're in our last two years of high school and for some of us this is our last year – so it's sort of the first taste of adulthood.”

If you have a formal dress hanging in your wardrobe or a suit that's never worn, please donate it ahead of the Ōtūmoetai College Ball on June 24. Donation collections are running Monday-Friday 8.45am-3.20pm at the school's main office.