Gowns of generosity: Over 100 prom dresses donated at N.B. high school
The generosity of several New Brunwickers will help ease the financial pressure of attending prom next month.
Lori Pellerin made a post on social media asking for donations of prom dresses. Pellerin, a teacher at Fundy High School in St. George, N.B., is well aware how the high cost of a prom gown is an annual barrier.
"There are definitely some students whose families are going to find it more of a financial struggle than others," says Pellerin, adding the burden has likely never been greater.
Cheryl DesRoches of Shediac, N.B., saw Pellerin’s post and immediately joined the effort to collect gowns in her area. DesRoches says she understands the feeling of growing up and going without.
"A lot of people helped me," says DesRoches. "So that’s the one thing I’ll never forget, the people who helped me when I was going through hard times."
DesRoches hand delivered a majority of the dresses from her area to Fundy High on Monday morning, while others were donated in the Charlotte County area.
The initial goal of collecting a few dresses was eclipsed when about 120 were put on display in the school’s theatre.
"I didn’t think it was going to be that much," says DesRoches. "But I think a lot of people know how times are hard now and how everything is expensive."
Some of the dresses still have a store tag attached.
"I’m guessing some of them are still brand new because of cancelled proms in 2020," says Pellerin.
The variety and sheer number of gowns collected will allow students from other area schools to benefit as well. The dress campaign is also becoming an unexpected part of the curriculum at Fundy High.
"Some of our students, as a special interest project or credit, are going to put together a webpage," says Pellerin. "They’re going to categorize everything, take pictures, sizes, and we’ll have a web page we’ll be able to share with all the schools in the district."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.