VERNON — Promenade year usually indicates a significant rate tag for superior fashion, but The Cornerstone Foundation is in its seventh yr of assisting community substantial university pupils with the hefty cost.
The yearly free Promenade Boutique store is open to all substantial faculty students on April 29 and 30, at 1C Prospect St., featuring gently applied and new night gowns and tuxedos, shoes, evening baggage, jewelry and make-up.
Much like a posh boutique, college students can test on the garments, and take property the items of their alternative. Slight alterations are also out there on internet site for cost-free.
Spokeswoman Alexis Carmichael mentioned that the basis begun this annual party seven decades in the past when students arrived to the nonprofit searching for a prom gown. That let the agency know there was a have to have to offer promenade apparel to the local community. The function has due to the fact developed, as they have received more than 450 donated promenade dresses for the boutique this calendar year.
Christine Filanowicz, director of the Outfits Lender and the Prom Boutique, claimed that in the starting, the clothes financial institution had just a several prom attire hanging on a rack.
“Then it turned, ‘well gee, you know, I’m getting a trouble. Do you have dresses?’” she claimed a purchaser questioned about eight yrs in the past.
Filanowicz then resolved to ship out notices to the community, trying to find donations of promenade dresses and official eveningwear. The rest is historical past, she reported of the growth.
It started off as a assistance for Vernon pupils and close by communities, which includes East Hartford, Ellington, Manchester, South Windsor, and Tolland. But in 2018 organizers claimed they served large university students from farther absent, which includes from Ashford, Rocky Hill, and Putnam.
A person of the matters that stood out for Filanowicz this year was assisting one particular particular girl who was from Hungary and new to this country search for a prom costume with her relatives.
She bought her dress and all the extras, Filanowicz reported. As she went outdoors keeping her new gown, Filanowicz explained the lady exclaimed “‘Best working day at any time!’ How do you not search at that with pleasure?” Filanowicz requested.
Filanowicz said that only a couple of months back, the woman did not have a gown.
“She didn’t know something about a promenade. ‘What’s a promenade? We never have that in Hungary.’ That was entertaining functioning with them … observing (the mothers) appear at their girls in their robes at the mirror,” Filanowicz mentioned.
The mom of the female from Hungary “just experienced tears coming down — she was so psyched for her daughter,” she claimed.
Cornerstone is a religion-centered ministry operate principally by volunteers that offers meals, shelter, apparel and outreach services in five structures distribute during downtown Rockville.
With its once-a-year Prom Boutique, the nonprofit offers a exceptional service for high faculty learners.
Rockville High School Principal Jason Magao said he significantly values the community partnership that the school has with the boutique.
“The Cornerstone Prom Boutique has offered our learners with remarkable options to attend proms without possessing to concern themselves with the major expenses associated in buying a dress from retail outlet,” Magao claimed. “Our staff members and college students alike assist Cornerstone and we definitely enjoy what they supply in return to our learners and family members. We simply cannot thank them enough.”
Deidre Montague addresses the cities of Vernon and Stafford.
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