Free gowns, makeup artists will have girls looking like queens for prom

Provided photos: Students in the Niagara-Orleans BOCES cosmetology program curl hair for Albion girls in a session providing tips for putting on makeup.

ALBION – Thirty-five local senior girls will be looking like queens for their proms, without breaking their budgets, thanks to the efforts of Cassie Eagle, manager of Community Action’s Main Street Thrifts, Gifts and More store.

In late winter, Eagle got the idea to offer free prom dresses to local girls who might not be able to afford one. The store had received an entire shipment of assorted styles and sizes of dresses last summer, and Eagle offered them to seniors who needed them.

Employees of Community Action’s Facilities Department load prom dresses to take to the New York State School for the Blind in Batavia, where 13 girls chose a free gown.

The community stepped in to help, with volunteers offering to do makeup and hair, hair stylists offering their services, Orleans-Niagara BOCES cosmetology students coming in to do makeup and the MAAC Thrift Shop in Medina donating makeup and hair products.

In all, 35 girls received free prom dresses, including 13 students at the New York State School for the Blind in Batavia. Community Action’s executive assistant Melinda Daniels arranged to have the facilities employees load the gowns in a truck and take them to the School for the Blind on May 23. This is the first time Community Action has taken their services to the client, said Katrina Chaffee, director of community services and reporting.

Three more events took place prior to prom night – two at the Main Street store and a joint event at Albion High School where Orleans-Niagara BOCES cosmetology students demonstrated makeup tips. The Albion prom will be celebrated this Friday at Hickory Ridge in Murray.

Community Action hopes to make the prom dress giveaway an annual event, Chaffee said. They are in the process of creating a room at their store to house the dresses year-round. This will allow someone in need of a formal dress to purchase one for $30. The Main Street Thrifts, Gifts and More store will continue to accept donations of dresses, suits, makeup and hair products throughout the year.

Special thanks is given to Julia Alt, Rose Freidl, Kristin Grose, Katie Oakes and Girl Scout Kinzie Rickner for volunteering at the store events. Appreciation is also expressed for the MAAC Thrift Store for their huge donations of hair products and makeup.