Samantha Hyratt started The Formal Project in Macarthur to help families struggling financially

It’s a rite of passage to dress to the nines and farewell the end of schooling in style at school formals, and one woman in Macarthur is making sure it’s a tradition everyone can enjoy.

Samantha Hyratt believes every school student deserves all the glitz and glamour of a high school formal, and she is on a mission to make it happen.

Finding the perfect dress or suit, dolling up and spending the night dancing with friends to celebrate finishing school is a rite of passage. But, it is also an extremely expensive enterprise, and one some families cannot afford.

Last year, she was helping charity Local Streeters No Kid Left Behind organise cars for students to get to and from their formals when a few requests for dresses came through.

“It blew up from there,” Ms Hyratt said.

“It got to the point where we had to separate the cars and the dresses because we had so many inquiries.

“I think most people were in disbelief that it was free. They just could not believe it.”

Samantha Hyratt established The Formal Project in Macarthur to help families struggling financially. Picture: Annie Lewis

And so, The Formal Project was born. Ms Hyratt said the initiative would not be possible without the generous donations from people not just in the Macarthur community, but across the country.

A room in Ms Hyratt’s Campbelltown home has been filled with stunning dresses, snazzy suits and sparkly shoes.

Some of the outfits have been mailed from Victoria and even Western Australia by generous benefactors who heard about the initiative.

“Last year, we had some people donate some gift cards so it went to people who couldn't afford hair or makeup,” she said.

“We also paid some boys for haircuts. It might just be $20 to some people, but for some families, especially this year with interest rates going up, it is astronomical.

“There has to be a special shout out to people who have donated. Some of the dresses we have had donated have price tags of more than $2000.”

Samantha Hyratt says some of the dresses are worth more than $2000. Picture: Annie Lewis

Samantha Hyratt has a room full of donated formal outfits and shoes that she dispenses for free. Picture: Annie Lewis

Ms Hyratt said she loved helping youths find “the dress” and watching their face light up with joy, adding it makes all the work worthwhile.

She has a firm belief that every single school student deserves to have the glamorous experience of a school formal.

“Last year we had families sitting at our table balling because they didn’t know how they were going to afford it and now they didn’t have to worry,” Ms Hyratt said.

“Everyone’s story is different. All the people who have bought houses this year that are now paying over $1000 a week for mortgages which they weren’t expecting.

“They don’t need to tell us the story, they just need to make a booking. I think it can be humiliating for some people to struggle, but they do not need to justify themselves. If you need something, that is why we are.”

Ms Hyratt said she firmly believed if you have the ability to make a difference, whether in a big or a small way, then you should always do it.

“That’s what we always say to our kids – if you can make the world a better place, then do it,” she said.

This year, the pair running The Formal Project are doing things a little differently because both work full-time and have children of their own.

On September 17 and 18, and October 8 and 9, families can book for their children to try on dresses, suits, shoes and jewellery from between 10am and 8pm.

Ms Hyratt said they had a strict no-questions asked policy, all anyone needs to do is message the page to book a time on one of those dates.

“We also like to keep the privacy for each family,” she said.

“When we make a booking, we get their name and their school so we don’t have kids from the same school crossing over. No one should have to say they got their dress from us.”

For more information about the project to get a formal outfit, or donate, click here.