“Within 24 hours of an article about our project appearing in the Sun Journal, WLU was contacted by more than 50 gown donors,” said Denise Scammon, WLU publicist. Within two weeks, 125 gowns and formal dresses had been collected. The group had originally hoped to collect 50 gowns. Gowns were donated from as far away as Gorham, N.H., and one woman brought in eight gowns.

Breanna Allard, a teacher at Lewiston High School, collects donated prom gowns for a program similar to WLU’s project. She contacted Scammon to see about sharing resources and delivered 23 gowns and 10 pairs of shoes to the Foss Mansion.

WLU Special Events chairperson Liz Feeley and Amey Feeley, WLU vice president, talked with Suzanne Carbonneau, costume designer at Community Little Theatre about WLU’s project. The theater donated 10 gowns from its huge inventory of prom gowns that it sells and tuxes that it rents to the general public.

“The clothing that Community Little Theatre has warehoused takes up almost the entire third floor of the old Edward Little High School building. It is amazing,” said Cathy Westleigh, a WLU trustee involved in the prom gown giveaway project.

Betty Turgeon, WLU member, Westleigh, and Scammon have spent quite a few hours removing gowns from dry cleaner bags, arranging them by size, and checking them for wearability.

Several weeks ago, promotional fliers were sent to more than 20 schools about WLU’s prom gown giveaway event. The response was positive. Celine Dugal, senior principal clerk at Lewiston High School, stated that the event was going to be awesome for so many people because, “It can be so costly to attend proms.”

Richard Amero, principal of Monmouth Academy, stated, “What a wonderful service to kids! This will help so many young women.”

Businesses have shown their support for the project, too. Electricity Maine donated a package that includes a certificate redeemable for cash. Republic Jewelry donated a gift certificate to its store. The University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College opened its bookstore to act as a gown drop-off location.

Drapeau’s Costumes of Maine donated a clothing rack, gowns and shoes. Debra Smith, a licensed esthetician, offered a certificate for a teen facial massage. Sweet Pea Designs donated a certificate for a corsage and boutonniere.

The mothers and grandmothers dropping off prom gowns, dresses and accessories, spoke about the expense of going to prom, particularly the cost of gowns that are usually worn only once and then hung in a closet to collect dust for years.

“One grandmother said she spent $350 on her granddaughter’s gown, which was only worn once. She hoped someone would select it at our prom gown giveaway,” said Scammon.

Those selecting a gown at WLU’s prom gown giveaway will be asked to pay it forward. “Our hope is that those benefiting from receiving a free prom gown will pay it forward and donate that gown back to WLU for next year’s event,” Scammon said.

“Anyone can donate their cleaned, gently used prom gown to WLU after this year’s prom,” said Turgeon.

WLU will host a ‘pay it forward’ tea in June when gowns can be donated to the Fairy Godmother project.

Although the request for donations specifies prom gowns and dresses, some of the items dropped off were more of the mother- or grandmother-of-the-bride types of dress. “That’s okay, though,” said Scammon. “One of our fairy godmothers dropped off a brand new, never-used wedding gown, so perhaps WLU can host a similar event in the future for brides-to-be. Right now we are focusing on the prom gown giveaway.”

The response from the fairy godmothers and businesses has been great, but will the Cinderellas show up looking for a dress to the ball? “We don’t know what to expect this year, whether we’ll have a trickle of girls or a flood,” said Scammon, “but we’re ready!”

The prom gown giveaway will be held from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Foss Mansion, 19 Elm St. For more information, call 207-753-0931 or email denisescammon@gmail.com.

Copy the Story Link