Coming from rags and broken dreams, Cinderella was granted a few hours of happily- ever-after thanks to a little bit of hope and a little bit of magic.
The world may not have fairy godmothers from the pages of our fairy tales, but it does have something close enough: Cinderella’s Closet.
Cinderella’s Closet offers young girls in Richmond an opportunity to be the belle of their own balls.
Cinderella’s Closet is an event hosted by Longwood University Communication Studies students. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., students will be collecting formal dresses in any and all sizes and styles to be donated to young girls in need. Dresses will be
collected until April 18. Cinderella’s Closet stems from Cinderella Dreams, a project of the Midlothian Junior Women’s Club (MJWC), who hosts the event every spring. Dresses are not the only things that are donated, however. The MJWC also collects other various accessories with the help of volunteers and various community sponsors, such as businesses.
According to the Cinderella Dreams website, once everything is collected, a “shopping” event is held where girls, for a minimum donation of five dollars, can shop for a complete outfit for a prom or dance of a similar nature. The MJWC has been working with women since 2006 to help hundreds of young women look and feel their best during their prom nights.
“Once I saw the Facebook event advertising Cinderella's Closet, I figured I could easily clear out some old homecoming and prom dresses I had laying in my closet,” commented freshman Kassie Fralick. “I went home that weekend for Easter and brought back a few dresses with me. I was never going to wear them again and now someone who is in need can wear them and enjoy them like I did!”
Students can learn more on the Facebook event, which not only details the drop-off locations every Tuesday and Thursday, but also commends those who frequently donated to the cause, such as Fralick, who dropped at least three dresses.
The link to the Facebook event can be found in the Weekly Email.
