Imagine if Cinderella didn't get to go the ball and meet the prince because her fairy godmother couldn't make the magic happen.
Now, what if instead of Cinderella, it was your daughter who couldn't go to the prom because money was too tight to afford a dress, shoes, accessories and maybe a new hairstyle. Not only would she be devastated, but you would be devastated for her.
Two Warsaw Community High School students and their adult sponsors don't want that to happen, so they're working to provide free dresses and accessories to Kosciusko County girls who otherwise couldn't afford them.
It's magic from the heart.
"The Glass Slipper Collection" was started by junior Alexis Lisenbee and freshman Katie Cobb. For the 2008 prom, Lisenbee said she knew of two girls that couldn't go to their prom because they couldn't afford to go. That made her sad, she said, because she was only a sophomore and she was going. The two girls who couldn't afford to go were upperclassmen.
When the decision was made to start collecting prom dresses for cash-strapped girls, Lisenbee said she thought immediately of having Cobb help her because of Cobb's generous heart. Cobb jumped on board.
For privacy concerns, Lisenbee and Cobb are the only two high school students involved in "The Glass Slipper Collection." Their mothers, Combined Community Services Director Peggi Lisenbee-Wright and Jennifer Cobb-Hayes, are the adult sponsors.The group is still looking for donations. Prom and bridesmaid dresses, accessories and shoes all can be dropped off at CCS, 110 E. Prairie St., Warsaw, for the first annual collection.
They also are looking for hairstylists throughout the county to provide free hairstyles on prom days, and volunteers to provide simple alterations. Anyone wanting to share their talents in those areas and provide a memorable prom for local students can call 574-269-6019, Ext. 22, and leave a message for Lisenbee or Cobb, or e-mail freshman_junior@yahoo.com
Lora Fisher, of Fiesta, has committed to styling two girls per Kosciusko County prom.
Dress choosing day is April 18 at the Kosciusko Community Foundation. It will be by invitation only, so any girl interested may sign up at their high school, on CCS's Web site, www.combinedcommunityservices.org or by e-mail as soon as possible.
Each school in Kosciusko County has a contact to assist girls in signing up. Jennifer Shepherd and Geri Heagy is the Warsaw Community High School contact, and Jo Gamble is the Tippecanoe Valley High School contact.
Every girl from Kosciusko County who signs up will get a dress, Lisenbee said. While the collection currently has more than 100 dresses, more are still needed. Monetary donations also are accepted.
Local high school proms are scheduled for May 2, Wawasee; May 9, Tippecanoe Valley and Triton; and May 16, Warsaw and Whitko.
After the prom, what a girl does with the dress is up to her.
"They can bring it back for next year, or keep it. We want to make them feel like it's their prom, their thing," said Lisenbee. "We want to make them feel like they're the princess."
