Members of a Chatham-Kent non-profit providing free prom dresses to students in need are expecting to have their biggest year so far.
FreeHelpCK is operating the giveaway Thursdays and Fridays from 3 pm to 5 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm inside the Downtown Chatham Center until the end of April. Geri Hughson, founder of the organization, said they provided 43 dresses last year and had already given away 29 during the first four days they were open.
“It’s for parents that are maybe struggling and can’t get prom dresses, so they can come and pick out a prom dress, pick out shoes, and then we have jewelry in the back so they get the whole outfit,” Hughson said.
The event has shifted a few times over the last four years. It was originally held in a smaller space at Praise Fellowship Church in 2019. They held a drive-thru prom the following year due to prom cancellations during the first year of the pandemic.
The dresses, shoes and jewelry are all donated from the community. Hughson said most of the dresses are brand new from different local shops.
“We do have some that are used, but if they are used and they need cleaning, we pay for them to get cleaned,” she said. “If there is mending, we take care of the mending too, so it’s a new dress for them.”
Savannah Lyons-Robinson, a Grade 12 student from Chatham-Kent Secondary School, recently visited the location at the mall to try on dresses. She said she heard about this initiative from her mother and was interested because prom dresses run for a high price.
“I think they had a very nice selection,” she said. “I walked in here, I wasn’t expecting much to begin with because you don’t really see people giving out free things very often.”
Lyons-Robinson said she hopes other students will take advantage of this opportunity because it has helped her out.
“In my situation, I’m going for a car and I have to save a lot of my money to get the car,” she said. “When it comes to prom dress shopping, having an opportunity to get a prom dress that’s really pretty for … free is just amazing.”
Along with the giveaway, FreeHelpCK will be inviting students out to Retro Suites Hotel April 30 to get their hair and nails done and to have their photos taken for free. The event is expected to run from 11 am to 3 pm
Hughson said to pay attention to the FreeHelpCK Facebook and Instagram accounts for more information as appointments are required for that day.
