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Community Corner

Cinderella Project Makes Prom Possible

O'Fallon's Belleza Salon collects dresses for girls in need.

is doing its part to help each girl look her best for the dance by collecting gently worn prom dresses from now until Feb. 28. All donations will go toward helping the Metro St. Louis Cinderella Project.

Robyn Clark, owner of Belleza Salon, has participated in raising money for charity organizations in the past, and this year wanted to be a part of the Cinderella Project. “What girl doesn’t deserve to get to go to prom?” Clark said.

She added that the salon has collected a couple hundred dresses since last December. A donated dress must be dry cleaned and presented on a hanger. All sizes and lengths are welcome.

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“People can pull up front to the salon, drop the dresses off, and we will take care of them,” said Clark.

Last year, the Community Council of St. Charles County hosted an initial drive called Prom Dresses with a Purpose. Approximately 4,000 dresses were collected and since then the organization's need to help has grown.

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High school counselors and mentors are encouraged to contact the Cinderella Project and refer junior and senior girls who are unable to afford prom dresses. The Community Council of St. Charles County helped 100 girls last year, and expects to assist even more this year as 40 different high schools throughout the area are invited to refer girls to the project.

Once referred, each girl is contacted by the organization to schedule an appointment and have the opportunity to visit the boutique and select a dress of their choice for free. A girl is also paired with a volunteer personal shopper for support in choosing the perfect attire.

“We have amazing volunteers,” said Diane Wolferding, director of community relations for the Community Council of St. Charles County. “It’s pretty cool to be able to help these girls. They are very happy and excited to have someone shop for them, to look pretty.”

Clark, whose salon hosted the initial kickoff event for the Cinderella Project last December, is also creating awareness by offering pink and purple hair extensions to customers. Each strand costs $10 and all of the funds benefit the project.

Furthermore, any girl who is referred to the program and lives within 10 miles of the Belleza Salon, will also receive a free hairstyle for prom.

The Cinderella Project boutique opens to the public on March 12 in Mid Rivers Mall for the “Pink Saturday” event. Dresses will be on sale for $25 with all proceeds going to the Community Council to purchase shoe gift cards, manicures, nail polish and pedicures for the girls in need. The sale lasts until the end of March.

For more information on how to donate and volunteer contact Wolferding at 636-978-2277. 

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