Maine
Maine teens are finding perfect, affordable prom dresses with help from this nonprofit project
BRIDGTON, Maine — The curtain on the makeshift altering stall slowly parted, revealing a surprised teenager in a close-fitting, seafoam inexperienced robe with naked shoulders and a big flower on the waist.
Their eyes had been large, skeptical, staring right into a full-length mirror throughout the room.
Lacy Snell wasted no time.
“You look superb,” Snell shrieked, stretching the final phrase into three syllables.
The apprehensive teenager then broke into a smile, their tense shoulders dropping, angst melting away into one thing like confidence.
Instantly, they had been in entrance of the wanting glass, spinning, getting a more in-depth have a look at their first formal costume.
That is what Snell and the opposite volunteers on the Maine Occasion Promenade Challenge do on daily basis. They make individuals appear and feel good.
The nonprofit offers gently used formal robes for proms and spring formals at low — or zero — price at annual pop-up occasions round Bridgton. This yr, for 3 weeks solely, they’ve arrange practically 1,000 dresees on the city skating rink.
“I would like individuals to have a look at themselves and see what they really feel on the within — lovely,” stated Erin Bradley, who was volunteering with Snell on Tuesday.
Open by appointment, the Challenge has served a whole lot of prom-goers since its founding in 2013. This yr, after two years with no proms as a result of pandemic, it has seen a flood of dress-seekers from Bridgton and surrounding cities together with Oxford, Turner, Brunswick and Freeport.
On Tuesday afternoon, three younger individuals, their moms in tow, perused the donated robes.
On arrival, Snell handed every one a pink garments basket and advised them to choose as many clothes off the racks as they needed.
“Bear in mind, they’re all simply shapeless baggage till you set them on,” she stated. “Choose as many as you need.”
{The teenager} within the seafoam costume determined it was a particular chance however needed to strive on a couple of extra.
“I’m sorry,” they stated. “I’m so indecisive.”
“No, no, honey,” Bradley stated. “Take your time. It’s OK.”
Additionally wanting by means of the racks of clothes, all organized by shade, was homeschooler Mia Macdonald, 15.
“No, that’s too purple,” Macdonald stated to her mom, Christine O’Connor, as she held up one she favored.
Macdonald, who had a spring formal arising, stated she needed one in a darker shade that went all the best way to the ground.
“One thing tremendous sparkly,” she stated.
Left to proper, Christine O’Connor, holding 7-month-old daughter Olivia, helps her eldest baby, Mia Macdonald, 15, select a possible formal dance costume on the Maine Occasion Promenade Challenge in Bridgton on Tuesday, Might 10, 2022. Mia Macdonald, 15, appears to be like within the mirror whereas making an attempt on robes on the Maine Occasion Promenade Challenge in Bridgton on Tuesday, Might 10, 2022. Credit score: Troy R. Bennett | BDN
Almost 20 modifications of garments later, the mom and daughter discovered the right costume. It was shimmering, darkish burgundy.
“We acquired one,” O’Connor shouted in victory.
Each had been all smiles.
It’s the sort of scene that retains Snell and Bradley motivated. Each are working moms who handle to squeeze the Challenge into their busy lives as a result of it’s necessary to them.
Snell nonetheless chokes up remembering her personal junior promenade costume.
“It price $250 and my mom had to make use of a bank card,” she stated. “My mom was a waitress and I felt horribly responsible — I nonetheless do.”
Bradley didn’t go to a promenade however stated she grew up poor, her mom making a lot of her clothes.
She stated she understands how a lot stress ladies are underneath to look excellent on promenade night time. Bradley hopes the Challenge can join ladies with clothes that make them really feel assured and not using a monetary barrier getting in the best way.
The advised donation for every costume is $25.
“But when they don’t have it, they will stroll away with the costume totally free,” Snell stated.
Some patrons pay greater than the minimal. One mom left a $75 verify on Tuesday, paying it ahead to the subsequent individual.
“That is superior,” stated one other mom, as her teen tried on clothes. “My baby got here house the opposite day and stated they’d been invited to the promenade, so we got here right here. There’s so many individuals who can’t afford this — and also you solely put on it as soon as.”
Snell and Bradley stated the Challenge is a spot the place everybody of each measurement and form is welcome, and likewise confused they’re LGBTQ pleasant.
“We’re right here for anybody who desires to put on a costume,” Snell stated. “Anybody.”
Finally, the Challenge hopes to department out into tuxedos as properly, and presumably begin an underwriting program the place members of the general public can sponsor particular person teenagers.
However there are different considerations to deal with first, together with the year-round seek for present, in-style robes.
The most important impediment of all is area. The Challenge has no everlasting house. When it closes for the yr on Saturday, Snell isn’t certain the place they are going to retailer their inventory.
“Most likely my storage,” she stated. “However we’d adore it if somebody might donate some space for storing.”
However that downside will wait. There’s nonetheless a number of work to do, matching youngsters with excellent clothes for this promenade season.
“Oh my God, you look so lovely,” one dress-shopper stated to a different as they shared a mirror on Tuesday.
“You do, too,” the opposite replied.
Snell smiled, getting a bit of emotional.
“We would like everybody to depart right here feeling lovely,” she stated.
To make a buying appointment on the Maine Occasion Promenade Challenge, or to donate, name 207-557-2261 or go to their Fb web page.