Prom Shop offers dresses a second chance

McCOOK, Neb. – When it comes to McCook’s Prom Shop, there is definitely a need. Co-organizer Lisa Felker said she has no problem getting dresses out the door to girls who need or want an inexpensive prom dress.

But the Prom Shop, which is operated by volunteers with the Community Chest, has seen the donations dwindle in recent years. For a variety of reasons, people just are not donating their used formal dresses as much.

Whether it is a bridesmaid dress or a prom dress, there is usually a significant financial investment involved when the dress is originally purchased. Add in the sentimental factor and girls – and sometimes their moms – are reluctant to part with a dress.

And then the dress hangs in a closet, sometimes never to be worn again.

But formal dresses can get a second life, by donating them to McCook’s Prom Shop, which offers gently worn – and sometimes new – dresses at a minimal cost. Plus, a donation means the dress is no longer taking up valuable closet space in your home.

Donation of formal dresses is just one side of the equation. There is the need in the community for inexpensive formal clothes.

The Prom Shop offers options for those who can’t afford to spend a lot of money on a formal dress. The Prom Shop is also a great alternative for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money for a dress they know will only be worn for a few hours.

The Prom Shop will be open next month with the days and hours to be announced. But in the meantime, if you have a formal dress you would like to donate, please contact Lisa Felker or Melissa Stritt at MNB, 345-4240, or just drop it off at nearly all the local banks, including McCook National Bank, First Central Bank, Pinnacle Bank, Great Western Bank and Horizon Bank. They will take care of it from there, including cleaning, mending and prepping for display in the Prom Shop.

Felker said they will even pick up dresses if you just give her at call at MNB.

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