2008 Woodie Awards
Dresses for prom gathered at ETSU
Holly Blair
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: News
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The rooms in which they play and learn are filled with things little girls dream about, and bright colors drape the room. Crafts ready to be made, snacks, and books await the energetic parade of girls ranging from kindergarten to high school.
All this is possible through funding donated to Girls Incorporated in Johnson City, Tenn. This program, like most others of its kind, requires a tuition fee. Each summer, a scholarship program funded by donations helps girls of every age attend Girls Inc. every year.
Girls Inc., the Women's Resource Center (WRC), the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, and the Tennessee Association of Family and Consumer Sciences are sponsoring the "Head 2 Toe" 5th annual prom dress donation event.
This event is designed to enhance the overall self-image of the girls by providing prom dressed personalized service and a shopping experience in a retail setting for their upcoming proms for $25 or less.
"The idea is girls helping girls," said T.J. Furchess, coordinator and founder of Head 2 Toe.
On Feb. 23 from 11 a.m.-2p.m. Girls Inc. will host their sale for girls in the area in search of the perfect prom dress. The dresses are donated by women in the area, including ETSU students, and local retail stores.
Eda Buchanan, the owner of Weddings by Eda located in Johnson City, donated over $8,000 worth of dresses just this year.
"I donated last year's dresses, the styles don't change that much and I love it. It helps out the girls," said Buchanan. "I love donating and they love me for it."
Stores and salons donate updos, manicures, and gift cards for door prizes at the event.
Merina Ellis, a junior at ETSU, donated her dress this week. "It is a great way to help out other girls. I have dresses that will never be worn again and they are beautiful, this way they don't just sit in a closet," she said.
Ellis is not the only ETSU student who has donated. There have been over 40 dresses brought to the Women's Resource Center at ETSU, which is one of the two drop off sights on campus.