Nonprofit organization gave away dresses Saturday
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
About five years ago, two area mothers and their daughters came together with one mission, making dreams become a reality for high school girls.
The mission, known as A’s Dress Closet, is a nonprofit organization that offers dresses and accessories to girls unable to afford that perfect outfit for prom and homecoming events.
Founded by Wanda Hutchings, of Twin Lakes, and Trevor’s Leslie Taylor and their daughters – they have firsthand experience of costs associated with school events.
The daughters, Amanda Hutchings and Anne Taylor, are graduates of Wilmot Union High School who attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
“We have two daughters that have gone to prom and homecoming,” said Hutchings. “It gets to be a little expensive, so we thought we would help people with their dresses and accessories because it gets to be a little too much for people.”
A’s Dress Closet, has been held at the Community Library twice per year. This year it made a move to the Sharing Center of Trevor for the first time on Saturday.
The Sharing Center stepped up when there was not available space leading up to the event.
“This is our first year in the Sharing Center, but they have been a part of our organization, donating supplies for us and advertising for us,” Taylor stated.
According to Sharing Center Executive Director Sharon Pomaville, they have supplied clothing racks, but A’s Dress Closet goes beyond what the Sharing Center offers.
While the Sharing Center has a limited supply of dresses, A’s Dress Closet has a variety of accessories, including shoes, jewelry and gift certificates to area hair and nail salons.
“We have some formal dresses that we give away and they do it better than we do,” Pomaville stated. “So it is so nice to see them with shoes and accessories.”
The dresses, donated by various stores, including Miss Ruby Bridal Boutique of Milwaukee and Ooh-La-La Consignment of Antioch, Ill., have one condition.
“We just ask them to like us on our Facebook page, send pictures and spread the word,” Taylor said. “We do ask for a small donation if you are able.”
Shoes are made possible through help from family and friends, and are bought when on sale.
Additionally, some area florists offer gift certificates that include Westosha Floral and Richter’s Marketplace.
On average, about 12 to 15 girls walk out with a dress, but girls often walk out with other accessories, Taylor stated.
“Not every girl that comes leaves with a dress, but she will either leave with a pair of shoes, or maybe she found some jewelry,” she said.
As girls prepare for both school, and homecoming – it leaves open another monumental event – prom.
But, the mother duo holds a second event in spring. The date for the 2017 event is pending.