Underprivileged local high school girls congregated at Hope Community Church in Raleigh from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday for a day of prom dress shopping. The Dresses for Dreams event was sponsored by the Center for Student Leadership, Ethics and Public Service’s Community Outreach Service Leadership Team. CSLEPS collected gently used prom and formal dresses in Talley Student Center from March 22 until Friday.
Carly Sutter, freshman in First Year College and program organizer, said CSLEPS was pleased with the outcome of the event, especially considering this is the first year it has ever been organized.
“We received almost 70 dresses and 15 to 20 girls showed up. For the first year of doing it, it was very successful. We just didn’t know how many dresses would actually get collected,” Sutter said.
Marilee Neal, freshman in psychology and event organizer said, “It turned out really well. We got all different colors, sizes, styles, cuts and lengths. The majority of the girls were able to find something they really liked and that fit them well.”
The event was planned and carried out by a committee organized by CSLEPS and volunteers who wanted to contribute to the success of the event.
“There were four girls on the committee that planned it. We had four or five other girls come in and volunteer during the event as well. Once we were at the Church we set everything up — racks with dresses by size, the dressing rooms and some decorations. Girls would come in, pick out dresses and take them home,” Sutter said.
Sutter and Neal both said the event was really gratifying. The committee was able to accomplish what they set out to do, relieving some of the financial strains that come along with prom and helping these girls have a memorable night.
Sutter said, “It was really fun helping the girls pick out dresses and telling them how they looked. One of the moms who came in said she just got laid off [from] her job and was so happy we were doing this, because otherwise her daughter would not have been able to buy a dress; it was really rewarding.”
According to Sutter and Neal this was a great cause because so many girls look forward to prom for such a long time and see it as a right of passage. They did not want anyone to have to miss out on an important night because of financial struggles.
“It was really exciting to know that people were going to benefit from something we actually did. Most of the girls were excited they were getting a free prom dress. [They] wouldn’t have been able to go to their prom if it hadn’t been for the event,” Neal said.
Sutter and Neal said the committee plans to bring back the event next year. They are already receiving questions about when it’s happening again and what people can do to help out.
Kaitlynn Allery, freshman in psychology, said, “I am looking forward to the dress drive again next year. I think it is such a great cause and I’m excited to give my old dresses to girls who will enjoy them as much as I have.”
While the event was a success, the committee hopes to have more girls next year. This year, members called some local schools and organizations that help underprivileged teens and families to recommend the event to girls. In the future, they hope to spread the word even more.
“When we were calling schools and non-profits one offered to partner with us, but by that point we already had the location arranged. Next year, we might try to partner with an organization that would help get more girls to come shop for dresses,” Sutter said.
The extra dresses were not discarded, but instead went on to benefit a worthy cause.
“We donated the extra dresses to Guardian Angel Thrift store in Fuquay-Varina. All of their proceeds go toward Alzheimer’s research. I and a couple other committee members knew of the store and thought it would be a good place to donate the dresses,” Neal said.
