Fairytale Boutique hopes to make prom dreams come true

Organizers of the Fairytale Boutique are hoping to make the dreams of high school girls in Pitt County come true.

The Volunteer and Service-Learning Service at East Carolina University is hoping to grant the wishes of some female Pitt County high school students through the Fairytale Boutique. The boutique will be open March 1 and 2 in studio space above the Tipsy Teapot on Evans Street in Greenville.

This is the first year that the center has offered the Fairytale Boutique, which is based on other similar boutiques held around the country. The idea is simple: Previously loved and danced in prom and special occasion dresses are donated to the center. Girls from area high schools, who are unable to afford the purchase of a new prom dress, “shop” at the boutique for a dress and accessories.

Right now, the Fairytale Boutique is need of more donated dresses, according to Jessica Gagne, student engagement specialist at the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center, who is helping organize the event. They have around 50 dresses.

“Our goal has been 300 dresses and with that number, we were thinking we could help 50 girls, based on the information from other dress projects,” she said.

Gagne said that they need dresses in all sizes, especially larger sizes, along with shoes, purses, tiaras, any accessories that a girl might need for the prom.

Students who want to “shop” at the Fairytale Boutique will arrive the morning of Saturday, March 1 and receive their appointment time to come back and shop later that day or the next with an ECU student volunteer assisting them.

After finding a new owner, the prom dress will be sent to Bowen Cleaners to be cleaned and pressed for its new owner free of charge to the girl. The Boutique is also seeking donations from other businesses, such as restaurants and salons.

Even though the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center staff is organizing the donated dresses, Gagne pointed out this is an ECU student volunteer event. Students will be serving as the personal shoppers with the high school girls and running the boutique.

“I read recently that girls spend an average of $400 and up on their prom dress,” Gagne said. “We don’t want anyone to miss out on going to their prom because of financial circumstances.”

Persons interested in donating or bringing a high school student to shop for a dress should contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center at 328-2735.