The Cinderella Project
While most of the articles on this blog are written to help you find a great deal for your wedding, I’d like to take a moment and describe one way that your great finds can go on to help another girl out there dreaming of her perfect day.
Throughout the country, there are a variety of organizations performing what is called the Cinderella Project. While each organization is run a bit differently in each location, the idea is to take gently used formal gowns and accessories and donate them to less fortunate youth.
I love how the process works.
The organizations often work with high schools, churches and community organizations to find eligible girls (typically high school aged girls who have worked hard to stay in school or have donated their time and talents to others but do not have the financial means to attend their high school prom). All the donations are set up in a store like setting and each approved girl is allowed in the ‘shop’ with a volunteer ‘Fairy God Mother’. At the end of the day, each girl gets to go home with a dress, shoes and accessories all free of charge. It is considered a way to thank the girls for the positive role they have taken in their community when most people their age would use their financial situation as an excuse.
I’m pretty certain that if you’re reading this blog, you probably don’t have loads of money to spend on your wedding. You might even be able to relate to the girls who could be approved for this project. While you might not be able to spare much, a wedding certainly creates an opportunity to give. Consider donating your bridal accessories that aren’t as personal to you- perhaps your shoes, purse or hair clips. Maybe hand your bridesmaids donation information so that, if they’d like, they could donate their dress to the cause after your big event.
There are so many people to help and so many ways to give. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all just pitched in what we could.
Donation location for Utah:
Becca’s Closet
Location: Salt Lake City
Contact: Annie Kuhn
E-mail: info@beccascloset.org
Website: www.beccascloset.org/Salt%20Lake%20City.html
NATIONAL
The following organizations accept dress donations by mail:
Abby’s Closet
PO Box 402, West Linn, OR 97068
Cinderella Project
266 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, NH 03275
Kenzie’s Closet
4500 Muchmore Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45243
Giving Gown Foundation
Dahlia’s Boutique
Attn: Giving Gown
120 West Main St., Tomball, TX 77375
Prom Project
414 Lochinvar Place, Louisville, KY 40243
Prom Project by New York Public Interest Research Group
NAC Room 1/120
Office of Student Life, City College
138th & Convent Ave., New York, NY 10031
The Bridesmaid Party
255 Lafayette Rd. Seabrook, NH 03874
