Interact Club embarks on Cinderella Project
WEST MILFORD — When the students in West Milford High School’s Interact Club had to decide on a service project one club member, Sofia Metcalf, thought about that one special night that so many teens look forward to – prom night. All the kids in the group got on board and the club’s Cinderella Project dress sale became a reality.
The Interact Club, a youth club sponsored by the West Milford Rotary and whose motto is “Service Above Self,” has approximately 30 student members at this time. Developing leadership skills, a sense of community responsibility, respect for others and learning the value of hard work is the bedrock of the organization.
“We do a lot of community service around West Milford,“ club president Danielle Burns said. And their helping hands spanned the globe last year when they raised funds for the Gift of Life Foundation. Working with the Rotary, they helped to bring a Ukrainian girl to the United States for critical heart surgery.
“We raised $2,000 and the Rotary matched it,” Burns said, with a sense of accomplishment.
This year their Cinderella Project will hit closer to home and they’ve thought it through. A three-pronged effort, they are collecting “lightly used” prom dresses, gowns, semi-formals and cocktail dresses for a sale scheduled for the beginning of February. Girls with limited expendable income, or those who just can’t resist a good buy, can pick up some terrific bargains and the proceeds from the sale will be funneled back into the community to help other kids defray some of the costs of prom night. Any unsold dresses will be sent to a Cinderella Project chapter and will be given away to kids in need. This appears to be a win/win/win situation.
Going to a prom can be a rather expensive outing. Consider the dress, shoes and jewelry, hair and nails, tux rentals, transportation, and so on. Yet it is a rite of passage, something to recall with a smile in years to come.
“You always think of going to dances and proms. The girls getting dressed up and boys look forward to it, too,” Burns said.
If money is an issue, the Interact Club’s efforts may help. They hope to distribute the funds they raise through a school social service worker, keeping the financial assistance aspect private.
Dress donations are now being accepted at boxes set up at the West Milford Library on Ridge Road and at the Hillcrest Community Center. Burns asked that donated dresses be tagged with the original purchase price to help them arrive at a good sale price. Dressing areas will be available to try on the garments.
About 20 students are busy at work on this project, from advertising to storage and organization and help on the days of the sale.
Burns, a senior, is looking forward to her prom in June and recalled her junior prom as an exciting time. She’ll probably be donating her last year’s prom dress to the sale but acknowledges it may be a tad difficult to part with it.
“It will be a little hard. I look back at pictures and want to try it on again. But it will go to someone who needs it,” she said.
Pretty grown up thinking for a 17 year old. Sometimes giving hurts but the rewards are limitless.