Over 300 dresses available at cvFree Prom Closet
The cvFree Prom Closet now has over 300 prom dresses available to rent for a $20 refundable deposit, as well as suits, shoes, and jewelry. The Closet will be hosting open houses for students to try on dresses on March 9, 12, and 27; April 1, 12, 25, and 30; and May 10, 11, and 16. (Submitted photo)
NORWICH — For the ninth year running, the cvFree Prom Closet, located in cvFree Church at 4299 State Highway 23 in Norwich, will be holding several open houses through the prom season for local students to come in and try on prom dresses available to borrow.
The Closet now has over 300 dresses in stock, ranging in size from 00 to 32. They also have suits, shoes, and jewelry available.
"Tuesday we had a community member donate 30 gowns, and most of them are like brand new condition, and then we just had a donation of about ten more dresses come today," said cvFree Prom Closet Co-Lead Jensyn Penta. "The majority of them are brand new with tags."
Borrowing from the Prom Closet costs a $20 deposit that is refunded when the dress and any other borrowed items are returned, so long as there is no damage to them.
Open house dates are scheduled for March 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; March 12 and 27 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; April 1, 12, 25, and 30 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; May 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; May 11 from 2 to 4 p.m.; and May 16 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
No registration is required; students from any school in the area are free to show up during an open house to try on dresses.
Penta said anyone who can't make it to an open house date can also contact the Prom Closet through the cvFree Prom Closet Facebook page to schedule an appointment.
At the open houses, cvFree Prom Closet Co-Lead Alexis Race said visitors will be assisted by a volunteer to find dresses to try on in dressing rooms set up at cvFree Church. Once the perfect dress is found, they can also try on shoes and jewelry that are included in the dress rental.
"The whole point of me setting up dressing rooms downstairs is so they have that one-on-one experience with a volunteer here, as if they went to an actual dress store and still had that special experience. It’s really important to me," Race said.
Those who would like to get involved with the cvFree Prom Closet as volunteers can do so by contacting the cvFree Prom Closet Facebook page. Penta said there are plenty of roles available for volunteers.
"We can always use people to do alterations; cleaning dresses that we get back, like deodorant stains; and then boots on the ground, helping with open houses or other events that we host, like the Get Ready With Me; and we do have some volunteers that strictly do social media posts as well," she said.
Individuals who would like to donate gently used prom dresses, suits, shoes, or jewelry can drop them off in the donation bin on the front porch of cvFree Church. Penta said they are especially in need of suits this year, and they're always looking for gowns in size 16 and up.
In addition to Prom Closet open houses, Race and Penta will also be holding another Get Ready With Me day on the day of the Norwich City School District Prom, after the success of the first event last year.
"We had 14 people show up to get hair, makeup, nails. And we had so many gracious volunteers that Lexi was able to get who came and did acrylic nails on the girls," said Penta. "We had hair artists, makeup artists, and we also had a professional photographer come and take photos of the girls as well."
This year's cvFree Prom Closet season marks Race's fifth year as the ministry lead, and Penta's first year joining as a co-lead.
"The five years that I’ve been one of the leads of this ministry has been a really great opportunity for me as somebody who grew up in Norwich, was able to come back to Norwich, and now give back to my community, this ministry is one that I really have enjoyed working in," said Race. "I love seeing the girls, I love seeing their faces, the smiles on their faces when they’re trying on the gowns, it’s so much fun for them. So to be able to bless them and give them this opportunity that they might not have otherwise is also a blessing for me to see and be a part of."
For more information on the cvFree Prom Closet and the upcoming Get Ready With Me day, visit the cvFree Prom Closet Facebook page.
The Closet now has over 300 dresses in stock, ranging in size from 00 to 32. They also have suits, shoes, and jewelry available.
"Tuesday we had a community member donate 30 gowns, and most of them are like brand new condition, and then we just had a donation of about ten more dresses come today," said cvFree Prom Closet Co-Lead Jensyn Penta. "The majority of them are brand new with tags."
Borrowing from the Prom Closet costs a $20 deposit that is refunded when the dress and any other borrowed items are returned, so long as there is no damage to them.
Open house dates are scheduled for March 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; March 12 and 27 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; April 1, 12, 25, and 30 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; May 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; May 11 from 2 to 4 p.m.; and May 16 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
No registration is required; students from any school in the area are free to show up during an open house to try on dresses.
Penta said anyone who can't make it to an open house date can also contact the Prom Closet through the cvFree Prom Closet Facebook page to schedule an appointment.
At the open houses, cvFree Prom Closet Co-Lead Alexis Race said visitors will be assisted by a volunteer to find dresses to try on in dressing rooms set up at cvFree Church. Once the perfect dress is found, they can also try on shoes and jewelry that are included in the dress rental.
"The whole point of me setting up dressing rooms downstairs is so they have that one-on-one experience with a volunteer here, as if they went to an actual dress store and still had that special experience. It’s really important to me," Race said.
Those who would like to get involved with the cvFree Prom Closet as volunteers can do so by contacting the cvFree Prom Closet Facebook page. Penta said there are plenty of roles available for volunteers.
"We can always use people to do alterations; cleaning dresses that we get back, like deodorant stains; and then boots on the ground, helping with open houses or other events that we host, like the Get Ready With Me; and we do have some volunteers that strictly do social media posts as well," she said.
Individuals who would like to donate gently used prom dresses, suits, shoes, or jewelry can drop them off in the donation bin on the front porch of cvFree Church. Penta said they are especially in need of suits this year, and they're always looking for gowns in size 16 and up.
In addition to Prom Closet open houses, Race and Penta will also be holding another Get Ready With Me day on the day of the Norwich City School District Prom, after the success of the first event last year.
"We had 14 people show up to get hair, makeup, nails. And we had so many gracious volunteers that Lexi was able to get who came and did acrylic nails on the girls," said Penta. "We had hair artists, makeup artists, and we also had a professional photographer come and take photos of the girls as well."
This year's cvFree Prom Closet season marks Race's fifth year as the ministry lead, and Penta's first year joining as a co-lead.
"The five years that I’ve been one of the leads of this ministry has been a really great opportunity for me as somebody who grew up in Norwich, was able to come back to Norwich, and now give back to my community, this ministry is one that I really have enjoyed working in," said Race. "I love seeing the girls, I love seeing their faces, the smiles on their faces when they’re trying on the gowns, it’s so much fun for them. So to be able to bless them and give them this opportunity that they might not have otherwise is also a blessing for me to see and be a part of."
For more information on the cvFree Prom Closet and the upcoming Get Ready With Me day, visit the cvFree Prom Closet Facebook page.
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