Community members are encouraged to purge their closets for a good cause. The Newfane Alumni Association is calling for clothing donations for its upcoming formal-wear drive on March 22. The Panther Pretty event will offer students free dress clothing for upcoming dances, proms, college admissions interviews, and job interviews.
Community members can start dropping off dresses, suits, shoes, ties, handbags, and jewelry at the Newfane High School main office.
“It allows that kid that thinks they don’t have the money to buy a dress to go to prom,” Jill Keys, an alumni organizer. “That kid” can be from any local school district, said Corrie Murray of the alumni association. “Everyone is welcome.”
“It all started during Covid when the Newfane Alumni Association realized that prom was going to be an economic hardship on everybody,” said Keys.
The alumni association tapped into the community with great results. In addition to alumni dresses of days gone by, stores donated brand-new items coming off the sales floor. Keys said hair salons donated products and gift certificates for services. The event, which started in 2021, offered more than 400 items last year.
“It’s all free,” Keys said. “There is no requirement of returning it.” Students can donate clothing back to the alumni association for the following year if they choose.
Murray said area bridal stores have been generous with donating off-the-rack dresses. With those new items, the event offers an opportunity for families to save hundreds of dollars, she said.
Keys emphasizes that any and all styles for girls and boys, from adult size zero and up, are welcome. She said both girls and boys had worn suits and less formal dresses to interviews, and eighth-graders will be seeking outfits for their moving-up day dance.
“It will be surprising to people what the kids actually take with them,” Keys said of student choices. Items that donors thought wouldn’t be appealing became popular with teen shoppers. “We’ve had some interesting dresses that kids have absolutely fallen in love with.”
Key said some students are reluctant to consider donated clothing. To get them to the doors, she encourages teens to just take a look. “Once they get inside and realize how many dresses there are and how good they are, they are in!”
“I see absolute happiness when they leave,” Murray said.