Gowns abound
CENTER TWP — The snow may be piling up and the temperature dropping below zero, but it's still not too early to start thinking about the prom.
That's why the second annual Cinderella's Closet, which gives high school students prom dresses for free, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Community Alliance Church, 800 Mercer Road.
Teresa Ferrainolo, founder and executive director of the PLUG IN Project, (People Linking Unlimited Generosity to those In Need), who is organizing the dress giveaway, said there will be nearly 300 donated dresses sorted by size on racks in the church gymnasium.
“They get to try them on in dressing rooms (that have been) set up,” Ferrainolo said. “If they choose to donate that gown in the future, that's their choice.”
Denny Krajacic, senior pastor at Community Alliance, said “When we opened this facility here, we wanted to do as many things for the community as we could. When Teresa came here, it was an opportunity.” Ferrainolo is a member of the church.
Ferrainolo, of Ellwood City, is a Butler High School graduate. She went on to graduate from Indiana (Pa.) University with a degree in dietetics and psychology and earned a master's in public health from the University of Pittsburgh
She works as a diabetes educator for a pharmacy and in October 2012 founded Simple Acts, which became the PLUG IN Project.
Ferrainolo said she started PLUG IN as a way to get community resources to those who need them.
PLUG IN tackles one project a month, and the prom dress giveaway is this month's effort, she said.
“Until we earn the trust of people, until people get to know who we are, we don't accept any financial resources,” said Ferrainolo. “We ask that they be donated directly to the cause.”
She said people and organizations had donated the 300 gowns that will be on display at the Cinderella's Closet event and that any money given will go to American Commodore Tuxedo, 196 Clearview Circle, to pay for one tuxedo rental which will be raffled off to a prom escort.
“First United Methodist Church, which had staged a similar event in the past, contacted me and donated quite a few dresses,” she said.
Jeff Schnur, principal of Butler High School, said, “She did this last year, and it was pretty early, too. This is a nice project,”
“We put up fliers so that students could see that this is available to them,” said Schnur. “This is the time of the year that girls are talking about prom dresses.”
“We are doing it early so they have time to get alterations done,” Ferrainolo said. “Last year, there wasn't enough time. Every year you do it you come up with better ideas.”
One difference this year, said Ferrainolo, is that students must bring proof of student status, whether it be a letter from a high-school guidance counselor or an administrator, a student ID card or a copy of a class schedule.
“Last year, we did have some girls getting a gown just to dress up,” she said.
Ferrainolo solicited gown donations through the PLUG IN Project Facebook page and fliers.
She said last year PLUG IN handed out 25 gowns but she is hoping to distribute many more this time.
“If you are in need of a dress, we have them,” said Ferrainolo. “We're here for you and we have the resources for you to find the right gown.”
Gown donations are no longer being accepted for this year's event, she said, but volunteers to work it can sign up by e-mailing thepluginproject@gmail.com.
