'Prom Shop' seeks donations of dresses

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Community Chest is looking for a few good dresses as the fourth annual "Prom Shop" returns this spring. The specialty dress shop offers gently worn - and occasionally new - dresses for a minimal cost. The Prom Shop will be open Saturday, March 4 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at 110 West C Street in McCook.

Lisa Felker, co-chairperson for the Community Chest, said they have several dozen dresses already but are in need of more with prom season quickly approaching. Previously worn dresses can be dropped off anytime at nearly all the local banks, including McCook National Bank, First Central Bank, AmFirst Bank, Great Western Bank and Horizon Bank. They will be accepted at the banks until Friday, March 3.

Dresses may also be brought to the "Prom Shop" on March 4. And they will even pick up dresses. Just call Felker at 345-8737 at MNB.

The Prom Shop is a great way for a prom dress to get a second life, rather than just languishing in a closet, Felker said. "Most dresses are worn just once and then packed away," Felker said. "Plus when a dress is donated, a young woman benefits from an inexpensive dress she may not have been able to afford otherwise."

When the shop opens on March 4, all the long prom dresses will be $25 with the short dresses going for $10 each. All dresses received at the Prom Shop are cleaned before going on the show-room floor, as well as mended and steamed by Laverna Ely of McCook.

If someone cannot make it to the Prom Shop on March 4, contact Felker about setting up an appointment to view the dresses after March 4.

All proceeds from the Prom Shop go to the McCook Community Chest, which benefits 12 local non-profit organizations. Community Chest is an account with the McCook Community Foundation Fund, an affiliate of the Nebraska Community Foundation.