The Cinderella Prom Project of the Shenandoah Valley started in 2003 from an idea that germinated from a news article about how expensive proms had become for students and their families. Many students could no longer afford the attire for attending prom for financial reasons.
Starting with Waynesboro, Staunton, VSDB and Augusta County schools and a small space at the Staunton Salvation Army, the project started giving prom dresses and accessories to girls to attend prom. Boys’ attire was added later. Gradually more schools have been added when requested by students. Currently the project has grown to where it serves Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockingham, Rockbridge and new this year Shenandoah County as well as the cities of Staunton, Waynesboro and Harrisonburg.
For the last few years the Staunton Mall has donated a store for the project. Shield’s storage supplies a unit to store items and equipment for set-up, Cow Palace Auctions delivers from the storage space to the store, and volunteers set up the space just like a store so that students can shop and find the clothes they need. All dresses, tuxes and accessories are donated. Among the donors have been Fashion Gallery, Bridal Impressions, Bon Worth’s Augusta Cleaners, Staunton Florist, women’s clubs and the public. We ask for gently used items and we get new items from the stores when they have them available.
Students go to guidance and ask for an invitation to the project. They come to the project and are assisted by a volunteer in trying on clothes and getting the items they need for prom and sometimes graduation if we have items for graduation at no cost to the recipients. They keep the outfits they receive. Students are anonymous except for first names and schools. Last year the project served 108 students from the Valley. The project has grown every year that it has been in existence.
The project hours are Saturdays from 10-2 at the Staunton Mall to the left of Peebles and other times by appointment with a 48-hour notice.
The project can be contacted by email and the email address is: [email protected].
This year the project needs donations for prom and graduation. The items needed include dresses, shoes for boys and girls, evening bags, costume jewelry, unopened make-up, perfume, hygiene items, suits, tuxes, shirts, socks, ties, men’s cologne, after shave and any other donation that can be used for prom or graduation. All donations are from the kindness of people’s hearts and the project cannot give tax deductions for donations. The project is not a 501c non-profit and is hoping to apply for this status with the IRS but currently does not have the funds needed to do this.
Donations are needed this year for both young women and men. Due to the economy, many students need help in attending prom and the project feels that every student should be able to go to prom and not miss out on this milestone in their high school career.
Donations can be dropped off at Bishop Realty in Staunton during regular business hours, SAW Habitat for Humanity during regular business hours, and the store on Saturdays from 10-2 or can be picked up by request. Augusta Realty Group in Waynesboro will accept donations from 8-4 M-F.
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate REIII in Fishersville at 17 Parkway Lane (side door) is now a drop off location and so is 1st Choice Real Estate in Staunton on Augusta Street.
All donations are gratefully accepted by volunteers.
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