Nonprofit to hold prom dress giveaway in two towns

Prom dresses donated to the Charlestown-based nonprofit Shining Success will be given away for free to local high school girls at events in Claremont and Springfield.

www.eagletimes.com    

2016-04-16 / Front Page Inspiring confidence Nonprofit to hold prom dress giveaway in two towns By Cameron Paquette cameronp@eagletimes.com Shanna Moody, director of Charlestown-based nonprofit Shining Success peruses a rack of prom dresses donated to the organization that will be given away for free to local high school girls at events in Claremont and Springfield. — CAMERON PAQUETTE Shanna Moody, director of Charlestown-based nonprofit Shining Success peruses a rack of prom dresses donated to the organization that will be given away for free to local high school girls at events in Claremont and Springfield. — CAMERON PAQUETTECHARLESTOWN — Most prom attendees consider every decision with care — what to wear, how to get there, pre-prom plans, post-prom plans, and most importantly, who to go with. Shanna Moody, director of Charlestown-based nonprofit Shining Success, is hoping to alleviate the stress from one of those decisions. "We believe in the power of a prom dress," Moody said. "It goes a long way toward their confidence and their courage." For the sixth year running, the organization will be giving out prom dresses to local high school girls during two giveaway events ahead of the big night. All dresses are donated and are in like-new or lightly worn condition. Founded in 2011, Shining Success operates a boutique out of the Life Fellowship Church at 85 Wheeler Rand Road in Charlestown for unemployed or underemployed women to receive appropriate work attire to allow them to be more confident and competitive in the marketplace. According to Moody, every girl who wants a dress gets one, there are only two rules — every girl only gets one dress, and the girl who will be receiving the dress must be there to pick it up. To date, the organization has outfitted 135 girls. "When we were starting the Shining Success program we kind of stumbled upon [the prom dress giveaway]," said Moody, who partnered with Upper Valley Cinderella Project for the first giveaway that took place in Claremont. The Upper Valley Cinderella Project is a store based in Lebanon that offers donated dresses to girls in the community. Now in its seventh year, the organization announced on its Facebook page Thursday that it would be closing its location in Lebanon and partnering with Shining Success, moving its inventory to the church in Charlestown. Since the initial giveaway, Shining Success has held subsequent annual events at the church in Charlestown, which Moody said may have led to a decrease in foot traffic due to travel distances. In partnering with the Upper Valley Cinderella Project and holding two open house events this year, Moody said she hopes to serve more girls in the area. "There's a lot more girls out there that could use dresses," said Moody. "Prom dresses are expensive." The first giveaway will be held at the Claremont Elks Club at 54 Summer St. on Wednesday, April 20 while the second giveaway will be held on Tuesday, April 26 at the United Methodist Church at 10 Valley St. in Springfield. Both giveaways take place from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. "We got a lot of donations this year," said Moody, who estimates that between 175 and 200 dresses have been given to the organization, mostly by private donation. Along with the dresses, a small selection of shoes and jewelry will be available. Aside from providing free prom dresses, Moody said the organization hopes the dresses will give the girls who wear them confidence and a positive self outlook. "What we hope to do is create some change," said Moody. "We want to inspire these girls so they can be more, do more." Moody said the organization is accepting donated dresses up until the day of the event at Life Fellowship Church or the Claremont Chamber of Commerce. Donations can also be made at either of the two open house locations during that location's giveaway. Those interested in donating dresses or seeking more information can call Moody at (603) 769-0929.