A Princess for a Night

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Created on Friday, 17 April 2015 17:17

Written by Julia Rose

LYNDON-- In just a few short months the most important time in any high school girls life will take place, prom. And at one local business in Lyndonville they have tons of options for those girls to choose from.

At H.O.P.E., helping other people everyday, they a room that is hidden from the rest of the store. In this room there is guessed to be over 500 prom dresses.

"We have a dress for any type, any size, every color," said Yvette O'Conner. "Informal, formal. Over the top. You know it's amazing what people bring in to donate."

O'Conner is the coordinator of The Princess Project, something that has been around since 2006. The Princess Project was started by Eden Jade Berube, the daughter of Jodi Wheeler who began H.O.P.E. Berube wanted to give all girls the option to go to prom by providing them with dresses from which they could borrow. For nine years now H.O.P.E. has received donations after donations of dresses from all different types of styles.

When a girl wants to use a dress or even just look through their selection, they must first call in to make an appointment. At their appointment, they are brought downstairs, past where the food is kept, to a room packed wall to wall with dresses. They are then treated like a princess and given plenty of time to pick out some dresses and try them on. Once then have chosen a dress the girl is brought upstairs to fill out some paper work that includes, name, number, parents signature, and other important information. There is no cost in borrowing a dress.

But this year the demand for dresses and the amount of people calling in for appointments is slow. Usually by this time girls are already picking out dresses and taking them home.

"So far we are slow, not sure why. We've had inquires for sure. Like the whole appointments, when can they come in."

Although it is called the Princess Project, boys can get in on borrowing outfits for prom too.

"We get donations for suits, and the same thing goes with the suits, you know you can come in and borrow them."

They have a growing selection of guys suits to borrow, along with ties, bow ties, belts, vest, and everything a guy needs to look snazzy at prom. H.O.P.E. also has both a collection of boys and girls shoes to go along with the outfits selected.

O'Conner said that this project has been popular for girls who cannot afford the latest styles and the costs of how high prom dresses are today. And the dresses that are brought in range from every style a girl could possibly want. O'Conner also said that she hopes in the next few months people will start calling in to make appointments, because every girl dreams of being a Princess for just one night.