Boutique provides prom outfits for teens.
Volunteer co-ordinator Nita Saini arranges items in the New Circles prom boutique Tuesday afternoon. New Circles is a social organization that provides clothing for families in need.
Staff photo/NICK PERRY
With prom season about to gear up, teenage girls have been busy shopping for gorgeous gowns, stunning shoes, and pretty purses. But, for some girls in communities across the city the financial hurdles of prom keep them from experiencing the milestone.
The prom boutique at New Circles Community Services has been helping all young people experience the fun of a high school prom since 2005.
The boutique allows students from specific schools where New Circles knows there would be a need to come peruse the racks of donated dress and shoes and take an outfit away at no charge.
"Financial barriers should not be a reason for someone to not attend this event," said Nita Saini. She's the volunteer co-ordinator at New Circles and as part of her job is being in charge of the boutique.
So far 59 young women and six young men have been to the boutique to find their prom outfit - in addition to dresses there is also a selection of dress shirts, ties and jackets for guys to pick from.
Before each scheduled visit the volunteers ready the clothing, shoes and accessories. Once the donations come in they're steamed and checked for any rips or stains. A tailor comes into the office once a week to repair any zippers or fix any rips.
"We go out of our way to make sure everything is something people would be proud to wear," Saini said.
A young woman might come in with her mother and the pair are matched up with a volunteer who will help her find a dress that she'll love; it's the kind of service a bride might receive when shopping for a gown.
"We don't want youth to walk in here and feel like they're in a clothing bank," said Jane Craig, New Circles executive director.
Saini loves being able to see the girls excited to find a dress.
This is her first year with the program and she remembers the first young woman she helped. She recalls her saying she wasn't pretty enough to wear a particular dress, but Saini encouraged her to try it on.
"When she saw herself in the mirror she was a diva," she said. "She was posing."
Located in Flemingdon Park and serving the adjacent Thorncliffe Park, New Circles tries to be accommodating of girls who are more conservative because of their religious and cultural backgrounds. They collect shawls, head scarves, shrugs and cardigans the girls can take to make an outfit more modest.
"They can practice their religious values while finding something they like," Saini said.
Donations are accepted year round, but letters are sent out in March to organizations and groups who have donated in the past. The social work students at the University of Toronto organized a large drive this year.
New Circles also provides clothing to families in need who can come in four times a year and shop for anything from workout wear to dresses to shoes and clothing for all ages.
In 2010, the organization gave out 144,000 items to 14,000 individuals. The clients who access the regular clothing inventory are required to make an appointment and provide an income statement and identification, but the students who access the prom boutique can do so freely.
New Circles Community Services is located at 10 Gateway Blvd., Suite 100. Anyone wishing to donate can come by Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or 7 p.m. Thursdays.
For more information, visit www.newcircles.ca