Glass Slipper Collection will be hosted for the first time at the new Combined Community Services building this year. The Collection helps any Kosciusko County high school girl attend her prom by providing dresses, shoes and other prom-related items. It was started by Katy Cobb and Alexis Light when they were students at Warsaw Community High School in 2009. “It’s for girls who can’t afford their prom dress, or for guys who can’t afford their tuxedo, if funding is available for the tuxedos,” according to Lacey Lisenbee, 2013 Collection co-organizer. This year, the fifth annual Glass Slipper is scheduled for April 13 beginning at noon at CCS, 1195 Mariners Driver, Warsaw. Organizers for 2013 are WCHS juniors Ashlyn Vitoux and Lisenbee. Girls who attend are eligible to win a door prize of a free meal for prom. Participants must sign up for the invitation-only event. Any high school girl in the county who would like a free prom dress may sign up at their school office or at CCS. They also may send a private message on the CCS Facebook page, or email pwright@combinedcommunityservices.org, attention Lacey and Ashlyn. “I love prom. I think prom is seriously important to your high school experience,” said Lisenbee. “It’s something high school girls look forward to going to and there shouldn’t be any limitations because a student can’t afford to go,” stated Vitoux. No student in the community should be denied the opportunity to attend their high school prom because of poverty, organizers have stated over the past five years. Dresses for Glass Slipper may be dropped off at high schools or CCS by April 9. In 2012, the Collection gave 87 dresses to girls who otherwise may not have been able to afford them. Many people have donated items to the Collection since its inception. Even actress Hayden Panettiere (“Scream 4,” “Nashville” television show), who has relatives in the county, donated dresses a couple of years ago. Local restaurants providing meals to couples for prom night this year include Hacienda, Mad Anthony’s Lake City Taphouse, Boathouse Restaurant and Applebee’s. Fiesta Hair Salon will be doing hair again this year, while Carson’s will provide clothing racks for dresses. Wildman Uniform & Linen has donated bags for the girls to put their dresses in after they’ve chosen them. If anyone is willing to donate their time to alter dresses for the girls as needed, they are asked to contact Lisenbee and Vitoux through the Facebook page or e-mail indicated above. Monetary donations for the Collection are always needed and appreciated, according to organizers.
