Posted 12:30 am Sunday, January 20, 2013
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Zonto club makes prom dreams come true
By DANNY MOGLE
dmogle@tylerpaper.com
I am a father of twin college-age boys. I remember how expensive it was while they were in high school trying to keep them in suits and tuxedos for a million dances, proms and formals.
dmogle@tylerpaper.com
I am a father of twin college-age boys. I remember how expensive it was while they were in high school trying to keep them in suits and tuxedos for a million dances, proms and formals.
I can only imagine how expensive it must be for parents of girls — especially for families where it seems like it takes every cent to keep the bills paid and food on the table.
Outfitting a high school girl for a prom can break the bank.
This is where the Zonta Club of Longview is coming to the rescue.
The club is having its annual Prom Boutique from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Longview Regional Medical Center Senior Circle, 3000 N. Fourth St. Girls can come in and pick out a dress and accessories that are free — yes, FREE.
“It (prom attire) can be so expensive,” agrees Cady Martin, one of the boutique’s cochairs. “We would hate for any girl not to have a dress.”
Ms. Martin said that after Hurricane Katrina, groups in New Orleans began providing prom attire to girls from hard-hit families. The idea caught on and now the boutique, which gets bigger every year, is an annual labor of love for Zonta Club of Longview.
It is part of the club’s mission of helping women and children.
Ms. Martin said they have about 3,000 dresses in stock in many sizes and styles. The dresses, cosmetics and accessories were either donated by families or Longview area merchants. Many of the dresses came from The Glitz, a retailer of formalwear.
“Some of the dresses still have the price tag on them,” Ms. Martin said.
Ms. Martin said 16 dressing rooms will be set up. When a girl finds something that fits and that she loves, it’s hers.
No questions asked.
No hoops to jump through.
This is where the Zonta Club of Longview is coming to the rescue.
The club is having its annual Prom Boutique from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Longview Regional Medical Center Senior Circle, 3000 N. Fourth St. Girls can come in and pick out a dress and accessories that are free — yes, FREE.
“It (prom attire) can be so expensive,” agrees Cady Martin, one of the boutique’s cochairs. “We would hate for any girl not to have a dress.”
Ms. Martin said that after Hurricane Katrina, groups in New Orleans began providing prom attire to girls from hard-hit families. The idea caught on and now the boutique, which gets bigger every year, is an annual labor of love for Zonta Club of Longview.
It is part of the club’s mission of helping women and children.
Ms. Martin said they have about 3,000 dresses in stock in many sizes and styles. The dresses, cosmetics and accessories were either donated by families or Longview area merchants. Many of the dresses came from The Glitz, a retailer of formalwear.
“Some of the dresses still have the price tag on them,” Ms. Martin said.
Ms. Martin said 16 dressing rooms will be set up. When a girl finds something that fits and that she loves, it’s hers.
No questions asked.
No hoops to jump through.
No need to prove income or residency.
“All the work we do is worth it when you see a girl walking away with a dress that she loves,” Ms. Martin said.
Join Danny Mogle on the “In Touch With East Texas” radio show airing at 6:30 a.m. Saturday on The Ranch KKUS, 104.1 FM and KYKX 105.7 FM and 6:30 a.m. Sunday on Sunny 106.5 FM.
“All the work we do is worth it when you see a girl walking away with a dress that she loves,” Ms. Martin said.
Join Danny Mogle on the “In Touch With East Texas” radio show airing at 6:30 a.m. Saturday on The Ranch KKUS, 104.1 FM and KYKX 105.7 FM and 6:30 a.m. Sunday on Sunny 106.5 FM.
