With prom season around the corner, the Cinderella Project of Lafayette is enabling many high school girls to attend the dance dressed to the nines.
The Cinderella Project distributes free prom dresses, shoes and accessories such as jewelry to those who might not be able to afford the expensive outfits.
UL Lafayette AmeriCorps, and Raising Cane鈥檚 restaurant have partnered to collect the formal wear as part of the annual project, in its sixth year.
The program, which relies almost exclusively on donations from individuals and businesses, launched this year鈥檚 collection drive on Feb. 4.
Donations can be delivered to the UL Lafayette AmeriCorps office or any Raising Cane鈥檚 restaurant in the Lafayette or Broussard areas until Feb. 22.
鈥淎 lot of people are starting to hear about it and getting excited about it and that is really helping us. Our community has really come together, and this year we鈥檒l have lots of new dresses plus gently-worn dresses,鈥 said Vanessa Adamson, director of the Cinderella Project of Lafayette and assistant director of UL Lafayette AmeriCorp.s
Formal wear items, which must be dry-cleaned and placed on clothes hangers, can include long and short dresses.
Monetary contributions and donations of other items such as gift certificates to restaurants, beauty salons and for limousine or photography services also assist the Cinderella Project.
The items will be distributed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sat., March 9 at the Lafayette Hilton Garden Inn.
Any high school girl in financial need who presents valid school identification is eligible to attend.
Volunteers are also needed to assist with the project.
鈥淭he set up, readying the dresses and the changing rooms, takes a lot of time and manpower. We can always use anyone who wants to pitch in,鈥 Adamson said.
Formerly known as the UL Lafayette AmeriCorps Prom Dress Drive, The Cinderella Project of Lafayette has expanded, with chapters in Baton Rouge, Monroe and Shreveport.
Overall, the Cinderella Project has distributed 3600 prom dresses to students at 84 high schools in 18 parishes statewide.
Raising Cane鈥檚 Chicken Fingers is the organization鈥檚 statewide corporate sponsor.
The Pinhook Foundation, Uncle Bob鈥檚 Storage, Antoinette鈥檚 Formals, and Lamar Advertising all provide additional support for the Lafayette effort.
For more information, including donation guidelines and business hours for drop-off locations, visit . To volunteer, call (337) 262-1360.
Contact: communications@louisiana.edu