A Saint Lazare teen borrowed the dress known as “the Hollywood dress” when attending a freind’s prom last year. The young lady made a donation to A Promise for Prom. (Photo courtesy of Lou-Anne Hood)
A Promise For Prom has more than 1,200 dresses to offer. (Photo courtesy of Lou-Anne Hood)
A Promise For Prom ensures no one’s left out
Prom is still months away but for a Rigaud woman who has become a modern-day fairy godmother to the princesses and princes who might otherwise be unable to attend the ball, the work has just begun.
Lou-Anne Hood started A Promise For Prom last year to ensure that anyone who wanted to attend their prom could, regardless of if they were able to afford it.
“Money should never stop a graduate from going to prom, but sadly, far too often, it does,” she said.
So Hood began collecting donations of prom dresses that, often, had only been worn once.
And as word spread, she received other donations including formal shoes, evening bags, jewelry, and more. For young men, people donated suits, ties and dress shirts.
Strangely, there is a shortage of men’s dress shoes.
To date, Hood has amassed 1,200 formal dresses ranging from full skirted, bedazzled princess dresses to sleek sequined sheaths.
She has 150 men’s suits in slim, regular and more robust sizes.
For Hood, the effort was personal.
She can still remember what it felt like to forage through her sister’s closet for her own prom dress, only to come away with a “skin tight leopard-print” cocktail dress better suited for a night on the club scene than a fancy ball.
“The other girls wore these beautiful dresses and I looked like a floozy ready to do shots with the sailors,” she recalled.
Hood’s mother, a single parent, didn’t have money to buy a different dress.
In addition to having to shell out $150 or more for tickets to a grad ball, many parents can spend hundreds or even thousands on prom attire.
But many teens and their families simply can’t afford the costs, she noted.
When a girl comes to A Promise For Prom, Hood not only outfits them from head to toe (including jewelry,) she and her two “silent partners”, Kristy Cuevas and Liz Gallagher, also do their best to ensure the teen can get hair, makeup and nails done for free.
Additionally the trio spend weeks secureing dry cleaning donations so all garments can be cleaned and returned after having been worn.
Hood works with social workers and guidance counsellors from most English and French high schools in the region and beyond to determine which teens are in need of the service.
And this year she has connected with Batshaw Youth and Family Centres, who have already sent five youths from group homes in Verdun and NDG.
“There’s nothing like seeing a kid come in who thinks they’re not good enough, that no one wants them. At first their shoulders are hunched and they think you have nothing for them…. then they try on one dress, then another and something happens. For me, that’s why I do this.”
She says though all of her written information is offered in English, she is bilingual and will happily help any teens in need.
Needs
Hood, who has health problems that compromise her mobility, works with her partners going door to door to secure donations for the free services (hair, makeup, nails, dry cleaning.)
She says many business owners can be reluctant to come onboard until they understand the program.
“They don’t know why I’m doing this for free… they think there must be a catch,” she said with a laugh.
Businesses willing to help can stipulate the number of teens they will help.
Donations of dresses, suits, accessories and more are also always accepted.
And Hood also allows those needing dresses for a second prom, weddings and various formal events to borrow an outfit in exchange for a donation and a promise to have the garment cleaned before returning.
“If I can help someone out while helping fund A Promise For Prom, it’s a win win for everyone,” she noted.
To learn more or to donate to A Promise For Prom, email Hood at apromiseforprom@hotmail.com, or go to her A Promise For Prom Facebook page.
Lire la nouvelle Prom donation effort underway for second season sur le site web VIVA média.