A grocery store in Kitchener, Ont. is trying to help students make memories at prom and Grade 8 graduation.
Staff at Zehrs Stanley Park on Ottawa Street North started collecting clothing and accessory donations in March to ensure everyone can be fabulously dressed.
“Where we are financially as an economy, if this is something that we can do to help a family member, that’s what we’re here for and that’s the purpose of it,” store manager Maddison Meyer said.
It started as an idea from three store employees. So far, dozens of dresses have been donated.
“I did not think that we would get the amount of dresses that we have here today in such a short period of time,” Meyer said.
Single mother Natasha Smigelski works part time and goes to school part time. Her daughter Mallory is graduating Grade 8 this year and she wanted to make graduation extra special for her.
“Finances are pretty tight. So, spending $200 on a dress is not feasible at this time. To have that opportunity to have my daughter have a dress is just - I can’t even put into words how special it is,” Smigelski said.
“There are so many girls who want to feel just like a princess for their graduation or prom, and not everyone can afford it. I think this is a really great program,” Smigelski said.
“At first, I was iffy about it because I didn’t know what dresses would be here, but honestly these are really good dresses and some of them are also new. What’s the point of buying a $200 dress if you’re only going to wear it once?” Mallory Smigelski-Dammeier, Natasha’s daughter, said.
The store has collected a variety of dresses and heels so far, but they’re also asking for suit jackets, pants, ties and shoes as well.
“We have a lot of prom dresses. Definitely won’t say no, but we are looking for a lot more of the men’s wear,” Meyer said.
Anyone wanting to make a donation can drop it off at a clothing rack and bin at the front of the store until the end of May. The store collects the clothing at the end of the day and puts them in a safe place.
“Everything. Yeah. Jewelry, purses. Anything for sure,” Meyer said.
A date for when people can come choose an outfit is still being worked out, but Zehrs plans to post on social media when they have set a time. Mallory already has her eye on a specific dress.
“It’s this gray, silk dress that’s kind of tight. Has ruffles,” Smigelski-Dammeier said.
Meyer said it’s not something Zehrs has done before, but she hopes other stores will do the same in the future.
“I would love to have more Zehrs get on board. Especially because we have a handful in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, and in the tri-cities as well. I would say too, for us with just Stanley Park, we’ve been fortunate enough to have the hair salon as well as the nail salon say that they would love to help out in any way that they can. So again, anyone in the community that’s willing to be a part of this, we’re open arms and you just have to reach out to make this as big as possible,” Meyer said.
Any clothing or accessories that don’t get taken will be donated back to the community.
