Guest Feature: Where do all those dresses go?

I don’t remember the last time I was asked to be a bride’s maid or matron of honor but I do remember the last prom I went to. I still have the dress; not that I believe myself or anyone else would want to wear it.

At the time, it was all the rage … lavender with sequins and some lace. It tied in the back and was beautiful. Well, at least I thought so.

So what does a person do with all those memories that are now taking up space in our closets? Have you ever considered donating to the high school? Many schools across America, Canada, Australia and all over Europe have programs that match girls up with dresses that previous owners can no longer use.

We have all spent good money on some of these dresses and want to see them go to good homes. Well there are good homes that would like nothing better than receiving one.

Seventeen magazine started a program called donate my dress (donatemydress.com). Every year they sponsor a website for young girls. Girls who might not otherwise go to the prom due to the expense of a dress may find one they can afford or free of charge.

Similar programs have gone on here before with success. This year, however, we are really trying to go all out to help our community come together and free that dress that is hanging in your closet. Let it live the life that it was made to live … to be seen and worn!

The program will work like this. Drop your new or used dress off at the Family Center at Libby High School now until March 19. (Prom is March 20 so earlier is better). Girls will have the opportunity to come in a couple of days after school to try on dresses depending on the amount we get in. The dress picked will be worn to the prom. And after the prom, it would be returned to us and cleaned so the dress can be worn again next year.

Won’t it be nice to see something you have and are not using go to a good cause? As for mine, after careful consideration, well, it had seen better days and will live forever in photographs.

(Kathleen Sheffield of the LHS Family Center can be reached at 293-8802, ext. 247).