Taking over the reins of a service project that her older sister launched, West Aurora High School freshman Alyssa Shropshire has begun to collect formal dresses which will be resold at a low cost.
This is all in an effort to make attending prom more affordable—something that Shropshire herself won’t be able to attend for a couple of years as prom is restricted to juniors and seniors and their invited guests at West Aurora High School.
Three years ago Alyssa’s sister, Ashley Shropshire, who now attends Augustana College, and junior Tessa Wegman, who now attends Michigan State, started the Blackhawk Boutique while participating in an activities leadership group.
The group wanted to find a way to give back to others by making attending prom more affordable and also raise money for needy causes.
There are so many dresses worn only once for homecoming or prom that are never worn again, Alyssa Shropshire said.
“The goal is to give everyone a chance to look glamorous and feel special and pretty on their prom day,” Shropshire added.
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With about 3,700 students at West Aurora High, West Aurora’s Assistant Principal of Activities Erica Kegarise said about 65 percent qualify for free or reduced lunch.
“The financial need is there,” she said.
Last year, Kegarise said about 15 girls purchased dresses from the Blackhawk Boutique. With 30 dresses already on hand for this year’s sale, the student volunteers are hoping for a larger turnout of girls interested in purchasing dresses as well as more dress donations from the community.
Donations of dresses, shoes, purses, and jewelry are being collected until March 10 and can be dropped off at the activities office of West Aurora High School.
The Blackhawk Boutique will be open for two dates in March and dresses will be priced between $5 and $30.
If the girls can purchase dresses at a reasonable price, it makes going to prom more feasible, Kegarise added.
Shropshire now is getting support from her fellow fashion design class students as well as freshman Jillian Druzgala, who has stepped in to help run the service project.
Dresses with beading that has fallen off or dresses that are too simple or out-of-date have been brought into the class to have some of the advanced students repair them or give them a facelift, she added.
In the past local prom shops have donated a few dresses from their collection for the cause, Shropshire said.
Last year, the money raised from the sale of the dresses, shoes, jewelry, and purses was donated to the senior service project – Feed My Starving Children.
Money also was donated to fund a memorial for two Aurora Central Catholic students who were killed in a car accident last May, Shropshire said.
This year’s proceeds from the sale will go toward the West Aurora Dance Marathon which will benefit the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Kegarise said.
The Blackhawk Boutique is open to students from any high school, not just West Aurora, she added.
“We just want to help as many girls as we can,” Shropshire said.
Cathy Janek is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
Blackhawk Boutique
Donations needed: Formal dresses less than five years old, slightly used shoes, purses, and jewelry
Donation drop-off: Donations will be accepted at the activities office of West Aurora High School from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday through March 10. Those donating should enter through door 16A.
Shopping days: Noon to 2:30 p.m. March 19 and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. March 23
For more information: Contact Erica Kegarise, assistant principal of activities, West Aurora High School, at 630-301-6507 or [email protected]