Saturday was spent with the Elgin Junior Service Board partnering with the Elgin YWCA for the Second Annual Wish Upon a Wardrobe (which as soon as we completed the day, they began work in preparation to receive and pack 3,ooo dresses coming for their next event as they have now officially become a part of Cinderella's Closet! Congratulations, ladies!).
This event is meant to give a COMPLETE wardrobe for ladies in need to create an amazing prom experience they would not normally have. It is opened a few hours in the morning (unadvertised) for a select few referred by counselors, teachers, etc. that are special circumstance cases and are given first choice for free. There would be no way they could have anything for prom or go if not for this gift from JSB and the YWCA. Then the afternoon is opened for any girl who would like to save money and have a nice wardrobe put together at a nominal fee (just $20! We actually ended up staying until 3 to make sure everyone got the same treatment and the same time to pick exactly what they wanted). All are treated to refreshments and assigned a personal shopper to help her find dresses, shoes, and accessories, carry everything for her, help her try things on and basically pamper her for the day. We strived to make them feel like Cinderella!
Special thanks to Michelle Gilroy of Elgin's JSB for coordinating this event for me. To Dee, Deb and others of the JSB for starting this program for Elgin just 2 years ago, and continuing to grow it and make it even better. To Julia, CEO of the Elgin YWCA, thank you for for your hard work in this and all of the outreach programs you provide through the YWCA. To all of the volunteers, thank you for your time, gifts, and for making every single girl who came in feel special. And to Jason Pawlowski, for giving his time to document the day for me!
Find out more about the YWCA at:
Find out more about the Elgin JSB at:
If you have gowns, shoes, purses, jewelry, and even unused makeup, please consider contacting either for the opportunity to share with others! Please also contact them if you know of a lady in need that could be helped by this so she can have a very special prom. These girls were so sweet and all so thankful and so excited! Seeing their faces as they got to pick out the dress of their dreams for this special time was a very touching, very moving experience.
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