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Central Alberta women donate grad dresses to families in need

Cha-ching – it’s grad season.
16506876_web1_190422-RDA-grad-dress-donation_3

Cha-ching – it’s grad season.

Some central Alberta women know first hand it is an expensive occasion, but an important one. Between the dress, hair and makeup, young women end up spending a couple of hundred dollars, if not more.

That’s why some women are donating their old graduation dresses to help families in need.

Bowden resident Tacie Roth has a fuchsia, size 18 graduation dress, which she wore when she graduated in 2018. The price tag of the pink and black dress was $850, but Roth got it on sale for $400. She spent another $80 on her hair, and $70 on nails. The 19-year-old said she did her own makeup.

Roth said she knows some people think of skipping their graduation altogether because they can’t afford it, and she wants to make their day special.

“I’d rather see this dress help someone,” she said Monday.

“I hope they enjoy their time at grad and (families) see their daughter walk across the stage in a pretty dress.”

Lindsey Kamins, a Red Deer resident, is also donating her purplish-blue dress that she wore to her graduation about 14 years ago. The dress is special to Kamins.

“It has meaning because my grandfather bought it for me before he passed away.”

But she is now ready to part with the size 8 dress that cost about $450 at the time.

“I thought maybe somebody else who can’t afford to buy a grad dress this year could possibly wear it,” Kamins said.

The dress is tight at the top, with a slim fit. It has a ballgown bottom and comes with a shawl.

Both central Alberta women are looking to make someone’s graduation special and they realize the dress is a huge part of the occasion.

“I know when I graduated, I absolutely loved the dress and everybody commented on how beautiful it was. So if I could provide somebody who isn’t able to buy one at this time, and may not be attending grad because they can’t afford a dress, then that would be a good outcome,” said Kamins.

A Red Deer make-up artist Cindi Goodfellow is offering a free make-over to someone in need this graduation season. Normally, the make-over would cost around $60.

“I was from a family who had little to no money I didn’t get to go to my graduation due to having no dress or anything to present myself. The goal is to help another young lady out there to feel beautiful,” she said Monday.

Goodfellow can be reached at cindyelaiine@hotmail.com, Roth at 403-586-5132 and Kamins at linz4life@hotmail.com.



mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com

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