Local high school students are already searching for their 2020 prom fashions, and the average cost of a prom dress, according to the special occasion brand Jovani, can average between $500 and $1,000. Adding flowers and boutonnieres, hairstyles and accessories many students find that they are priced out of attending before they are even asked to prom — enter Cinderella’s Closet.
Cinderella’s Closet began as a ministry of Immanuel United Methodist Church in Lakeside Park, Ky., in 2006, and provides formal dresses for regional junior and senior girls, along with shoes and jewelry for girls who might not otherwise be able to afford prom.
While Carrie Kimbrell was serving as youth service center coordinator at Daviess County High School, Kimbrell said that she would often get requests from students who needed help acquiring prom attire, but at that time, there were no resources available in our area to help local girls. Around 2011, a student approached her about Cinderella’s Closet in Central Kentucky that she had found on social media. Kimbrell made contact and then began referring 5-10 students a year.
“The girls would travel to Frankfort and would return and tell me about their amazing experiences,” Kimbrell said. “I was curious what made the event so ‘amazing,’ so I asked Sue Krampe [Apollo’s Youth Services Coordinator] to visit Cinderella’s Closet with me in the winter of 2014 — and realized that this experience was far more than getting a prom dress.”
The two returned to Owensboro with the goal of creating a Cinderella’s Closet for Western Kentucky. After several months of planning, fundraising and recruiting volunteers, the first regional Cinderella’s Closet was held in March 2015 and served around 70 girls.
Volunteer Coordinator for Cinderella’s Closet, Laura Conkright said that as a former teacher and parent of prom attendees, she is aware of the costs associated with prom and the need for such a program for the area.
Girls who attend the March 20 and 21 Cinderella’s Closet of Western Kentucky event at Owensboro Christian Church are given a fairy godmother who helps each pick out a dress and accessories with each princess.
Dresses are altered, if needed, pressed and bagged for the princesses while refreshments are available. There is also a table with hair and makeup tips, a table to decorate flip flops and a table to make a boutonniere for the girls.
“It is a time when these girls are shown love and grace from the first time they walk in the door,” she said. “It is sometimes the first time these girls have experienced someone telling them they are beautiful.”
Many of the event’s details are behind-the-scenes and have already begun with requests of donations, Amazon Wish List purchases and applications for the princesses.
More than 150 volunteers are needed to staff the two-day event, including food donations, preparations, fairy godmothers and those who can assist with hair and makeup ideas. Sign-ups begin on Feb. 22.
Donations of new or gently used dresses from size 00 to 30+, shoes, jewelry and handbags are being accepted at Owensboro Christian Church, 2818 New Hartford Road, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Entrance D on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
For those who want to donate via Amazon, a wish list has been created online.
All donations are tax-deductible.
Cinderella applications are being accepted through Feb. 26, but Cinderellas must be referred by their school guidance counselor, youth service center coordinator, church or other social service organization. Referrals should be sent to Kimbrell.
Conkright has been visiting regional schools during the lunch period and displaying dresses, shoes and jewelry and also speaking at assemblies so that girls can see what the program can provide for prom. She has even left several of the schools with donated dresses.
Kimbrell said that through the support of many individuals and businesses in Owensboro, nearly 400 girls have been served by Cinderella’s Closet since 2015.
“Sue and I have been beyond blessed by our efforts to start Cinderella’s Closet of Western Kentucky, and so thankful for those that joined forces with us in the early stages to make it what is today,” she said.
Updates for the event can be found on the Cinderella’s Closet of Western Kentucky Facebook page.
