SHAMOKIN -- Exquisite and expensive prom gowns and special-occasion dresses ranging in styles from classic A-line silhouettes to form-fitting gowns with ruffles or pleats of lace were available recently in Grace Lutheran Church at a hard-to-beat price: $10 worth of toiletries. Those items will be sent to local women soldiers serving in Iraq.
It was all part of a giant swap project called Fairy Godmother's Helpers, thought up by Caitlin Sherman, Karin Clark, Kendra Fry and Alyssa Orme, all ninth-graders at Shamokin Area Junior-Senior High School and members of Girl Scout Troop 2008.
The project was one of the final steps in a six-step, multi-year program that leads to the Silver Award, the highest award available to a Cadette Girl Scout. The award is symbolic of accomplishments in scouting and community activities.
"The original concept was inspired by Cinderella's Closet, a Web site that sells beautiful evening gowns for teens," said Dawn Clark, of Irish Valley, a troop leader.
"This is a tough economy," she said. "Combine the cost of heating oil with the cold winter we had, and with the prom season upon us, we wanted to help girls get a beautiful prom gown for a little bit of money. Some of those gowns can go for $300 new."
The girls then linked their original idea to helping women soldiers in Iraq.
"We knew some people who had friends in Iraq," Clark said. "Their reaction to this has been heart-warming. The women we are sending the items to are really excited. They appreciate everything sent to them. We're sending them deodorant, pencils, toothpaste, tooth brushes, shampoo, hand sanitizers and food."
Among the gowns available for swapping were new dresses donated by Lewisburg Bridal and two stores in Selinsgrove, Bridals by J and Bride's Bouquet.
"Bridals by J gave us 12 to 15 new gowns," Clark said. "It was quite generous of them, and we were so grateful. We also got a gown from Lewisburg Bridal that had a price tag of $399 on it. That one didn't last long."
"The entire event was very successful," said Lori Fry, of Coal Township, another troop leader. "We started collecting dresses as far back as February. We wound up with about 170 donated dresses and were able to get toiletries for 70 of them. That's a pretty good percentage."
"I think the event went good. I was surprised by how well things did go," said Kendra Fry. Karin Clark also was "pretty happy with how things went."
"I was surprised and happy by how many dresses we actually sold," Caitlin Sherman added.
There are about 100 gowns left. On Wednesday night, while the girls packed up the toiletries, Bernadette Chaundy, of Stonington, dropped by the church. "I know someone who needs a wedding dress," she said, "and there are some really beautiful gowns here."
Dawn Clark did not think there would be another swap day before the prom. "We're getting pretty close to the prom," she said. But, if someone is interested in one of the dresses, and would like to swap toiletries for one, she may call Lori Fry at 648-5548.
"Meanwhile, Carl Fisher, an activities director at an assisted-living home in Selinsgrove, called and told us that they are holding a seniors prom with residents," Clark said. "He then told us he needs some dresses for the prom. Their ages are 82 on up, 82 to 100. He's coming here this Friday, buying 10 to 15 dresses, we hope. I think that's very cool."
News
Related Photos
Discussion
Special swap
Trades of toiletries for gowns will aid women soldiers
- News
-
-
Getting caffeine fix as easy as taking deep breath
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Move over, coffee and Red Bull. A Harvard professor thinks the next big thing will be people inhaling their caffeine from a lipstick-sized tube. Critics say the novel product is not without its risks.
-
Jerry Sandusky argues for local jurors, suggests delay
HARRISBURG — Jerry Sandusky wants jurors in his child sex-abuse trial to be chosen from the community where he lives and is suggesting a trial delay may be the best way to address the intense publicity generated by the case.
-
State House enters second day of debate on gas drilling bill
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania's House of Representatives is beginning its second day of debate on a bill to impose a fee on natural-gas drilling in Pennsylvania and toughen regulations over the booming industry.
-
Cases involving gas station drug sales advance to Montour County Court
DANVILLE – Three people charged with selling heroin and Oxycotin tablets during two separate transactions at a convenience store lot Jan. 2 will face court action.
-
Danville school options aired with borough council
DANVILLE — After borough officials pledged to work with school officials toward a decision on the flood-damaged middle school, council members voted not to give or sell any farmland it owns. The purpose of the unanimous action by the council Tuesday night was so the district knows that rumored option to move the school won’t happen. The borough owns a farm across from the Danville Primary School.
-
Five watershed projects receive $873,000 in state funding
NORTHUMBERLAND -- Five Valley watershed projects will get nearly $873,000 from the state Department of Environmental Protection, which announced funding for 73 projects to improve watersheds, stormwater runoff, acid mine drainage and educational programs, among other environmental efforts.
-
Dispute turns into gun threat, troopers say
After an argument in which his wife threatened divorce, William Warren Woolsey, 36, grabbed a .22-caliber rifle and told her to meet him in the bedroom, saying he would kill himself, state police at Milton said.
-
Mom allegedly beat toddlers with brush
MIFFLINBURG -- A 22-year-old Mifflinburg mother has been charged with beating her two toddlers with a hairbrush until they bled from abrasions all over their faces and bodies, state police at Milton said. The abuse came to light when Brittany Morgan Sullivan's parents came home and found the wounds on their grandchildren, according to police.
-
Commissioners give disabled Sunburian a chance
SUNBURY -- A 22-year-old disabled man asked the Northumberland County commissioners a life-changing question last week. "Can I have a job?" Giuseppe Bua, of Sunbury, was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a genetic disorder in which bones break easily. Sometimes the bones break for no known reason. The disorder also can cause weak muscles, brittle teeth, a curved spine and hearing loss.
-
Trucking firm to add 25 drivers
MILTON -- The president of Watsontown Trucking Co. said Tuesday that his firm will be hiring 25 truck drivers in addition to several diesel technician and management positions, all due to expansion. President Steve Patton said the company, which has been in the Milton Industrial Park since 2004, bought 14 additional acres in the park, adding 10,000 square feet of office space and maintenance facilities. Construction on the new space, he said, will begin shortly and is targeted to be completed by June.
-
Mayor wants trucks to help fund roads
SUNBURY -- Mayor David Persing is frustrated with truck traffic entering the former Celotex site on North Front Street, and he wants to do something about it. Charge an impact fee. Gas companies have paid millions to repair roads damaged by trucks in the Marcellus shale region, and Persing wants to levy a fee to compensate the city for damage to roads caused by trucks hauling drilling waste through the city. About $25 per truck per visit, he said.
-
18-year-old dies in truck crash on Routes 11-15
LIVERPOOL -- An 18-year old Selinsgrove man was killed when his pickup truck collided with a tractor-trailer on Routes 11-15 in Perry County.
- More News Headlines
-
