The Fairy Godmother is preparing once again to make her stop in Ottawa.
Donations of dresses and accessories are accepted all year round at every Browns Cleaners location in Ottawa and with prom season approaching, the need for donations is growing.
The Fairy Godmother of Ottawa is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping financially struggling high school students have the prom of their dreams. It does so by providing them an outfit free of cost.
“Proms have become very difficult for teenagers to attend as the costs are prohibitive,” says Catherine Whitla, co-founder of the organization. “If we are able to help remove a piece of the financial burden such that this momentous occasion can be attended by the ones who wish to attend, then we've helped create a significant memory for those kids.
Students are asked to call ahead to attend special ‘Boutique Days’ and book an appointment where they will get fitted for a dress by a volunteer. Boutique Days are held at the Browns Cleaners Warehouse located at 250 City Centre Ave. near Scott Street.
Hanh Nguyen has been working at the Browns Cleaners in the Rideau Centre for over 20 years. She says that despite the constant flow of people that pass by, the location has not received that many donations.
“The location is busy but people just go to the buss,” says Nguyen. “People hurry to work; they don’t want to carry (donations).”
Nguyen says that donations are likely to increase during the summer because the warmer weather makes it easier to carry donations to a Browns Cleaners location.
Prom is still months away, typically taking place in May for most high schools, but many students have already begun scouring the city in search for the perfect outfit.
“I started looking in January,” says Jiselle Sare, a Grade 12 student at Immaculata High School. “It (is) very difficult to find a dress that would stand out and not be like the other dresses that the girls would get but also be in style.”
Sare says that her parents are helping her cover the overall cost of prom, including the ticket and outfit, but she recognizes that that is not the case for everyone.
“Not a lot of people can afford that much money (for) dresses, ticket and after-prom (events),” says Sare.
The organization was co-founded more than a decade ago by Whitla and Ottawa entrepreneur Melissa Shabinsky.
“We typically dress approximately 100 to 150 graduating young ladies each year,” says Whitla. “We turn no one away. Our philosophy is if they need us we will be there.”
Since 2002, the program has helped more than 1200 teens in Ottawa.
“I think it would be very helpful for those people who can’t afford dress, heels and the price of the ticket all together,” says Sare. “It would help them fulfill their dreams.”