Cinderella’s Closet is a great example of what can happen through community collaborations. The program provides formal wear to girls who could not otherwise afford to attend their high school prom. It’s about way more than a dress, though. Cinderella’s Closet provides an unforgettable, amazing experience where the girls are greeted with an environment of grace, love and respect. “It’s our goal that they feel cherished and valued through this experience,” Kimbrel said. “It’s an awesome program and it really is an extension of what we try to do on a daily basis.”
Through a prom dress drive last May and other fundraisers, interest is growing. So far, they have collected 200 dresses. “It’s really caught on. When they hear about it, women just love the idea and they want to be involved,” Kimbrell explained. “People are generating interest by talking about it and inviting other people to get involved.”
What has evolved is a great partnership between area schools and churches. Kimbrell and Apollo Youth Service Coordinator Sue Krampe started Cinderella’s Closet here in Owensboro to serve Apollo and Daviess County High students, but they hope to eventually open the opportunity to any girl in Daviess County or the region. There are several other churches involved, but Owensboro Christian serves to “house” the program by accepting the donated dresses, storing them, and hosting the dress-fitting event in March.
Throughout the year, Cinderella’s Closet takes referrals from Youth Service Centers and other social agencies. On March 14th, it all comes together in high fashion. The community room at Owensboro Christian Church will be completely transformed and decorated elegantly. Each girl will have a scheduled appointment time where she will be greeted by her “fairy god mother” who will walk her through the entire experience of trying on dresses, picking out shoes, and having the dress resized if needed. While the dresses are being altered, other women give the girls make up tips. At the end of the day, each girl walks away with a beautifully packaged dress fit to their specifications, cute shoes, a goodie bag, and a note of encouragement from her “fairy god mother.”
For more information, find them on FaceBook at Cinderella’s Closet WKY. Here are some ways you can help:
[tw-divider]DONATE (all donations are tax deductible)[/tw-divider]
- Donate gently Used or New Formal Gowns, shoes, purses and jewelry
- Make a monetary donation to help purchase items that are not donated in the quantities we require (plus size dresses and shoes)[tw-divider]VOLUNTEER[/tw-divider]
- Host a dress drive at your school, work or church
- Throw a Cinderella’s Closet party to collect dresses and accessories
- Be a Fairy Godmother and work one on one with our princesses to find the dress of their dreams (ladies age 20 or older)
- Make a larger commitment to Cinderella’s Closet and be on our organizing committee
