Debutants, charity benefit from 'Prom Shop'

McCook, Nebraska, seamstress-deluxe Laverna Ely steams a prom dress donated for the new speciality limited-time-only downtown McCook shop called "The Prom Shop." Laverna volunteered her sewing talents to repair and steam-press donated dresses. Laverna has helped young prom-goers with their special dresses for the past 25 years, after teaching herself to sew. "Then I do their weddings, too," she laughed. Laverna loves her sewing hobby/business, "It gives me a reason to get up in the morning," she said. And to stay up late at night. "I do 50 to 90 alterations a week, and sometimes I sew 'til midnight. Jackson (her little dog) doesn't mind," she chuckled. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Nebraska -- There's still time to donate prom dresses to McCook's first-ever "Prom Shop."

Just in time for the upcoming high school spring prom season, the one-of-a-kind, limited-time-only shop in downtown McCook will offer gently-worn prom dresses -- most of them worn just that one time -- for $25 or less.

Proceeds from the shop will go to the Community Chest (formerly the United Way), to help support the 13 agencies supported by the Community Chest in Southwest Nebraska.

All donated dresses will be cleaned, and repaired if necessary by McCook seamstress Laverna Ely, who has volunteered her sewing, alteration and steaming expertise. "This is a good thing for the community," Laverna said.

The shop will also accept those special shoes, prom accessories and jewelry.

Dresses can be taken to prom shop project coordinator Lisa Felker at McCook National Bank, or call her at (308) 345-8737 to arrange to have her pick up dresses.

"The Prom Shop" will be located at 110 West C in downtown McCook, the location and utilities for which are being donated by McCook National Bank. The shop will be open on Saturdays Feb. 15 and 22, from 10 a.m. 3 p.m. To accommodate more demand, the shop may be open a third Saturday as well.