Charity that gets grads into glitzy gala gowns loses home, hopes for Cinderella-story ending

A local charity dedicated to outfitting Grade 12 students in second-hand party dresses to celebrate their graduation is putting out a public appeal for its survival.

Gowns for Grads, a volunteer-run organization in Winnipeg, was evicted from its Exchange District headquarters over the summer.

Despite its best efforts, retiree Analyn Baker said her committee has yet to find a suitable replacement location to continue helping students.

“There could be 400 students this year who won’t be able to go to grad,” said Baker, a long-time volunteer with the group that serves high schools and adult education programs across Manitoba.

The registered charity requires a rent-free space that is between 2,600 and 3,000-square-feet with tall ceilings, as well as accessible washrooms and parking.

Baker, 75, has long been a dedicated volunteer because the group’s mission is about much more than sourcing garments for teens and adults facing financial hardships.

“So many of these students are the first in their family to graduate high school and it’s such an accomplishment,” she said.

“It’s really a privilege to share their joy. We get way more than we give.”

Baker, who graduated from St. John’s High School — the inner-city Grades 7-12 facility where Gowns for Grads was born — is one of seven women on the charity’s operating committee.

Volunteers collect gowns, purses and other accessories from donors and thrift stores. They clean and fix used items, apply for grants and set up appointments for low-income students to browse their makeshift storefront.

Although the busiest season is between April and July, Gowns for Grads needs somewhere to store its ever-changing stock on a year-round basis.

For the better part of the last decade, organizers have relied on the generosity of Harvard Developments Corp., their landlord at 35A Albert St.

Baker said the charity was incredibly lucky to have had access to its main-floor space — at no charge — for as long as it did.

The setup was ideal because the accessible site, a former gym, had built-in mirrors and tall ceilings that could accommodate 20 racks of gowns, she said.

It allowed the charity to mimic “a personal shopping experience,” Baker said.

The organization, which was established in 2011, previously hosted pop-ups at the RBC Convention Centre. That proved less than ideal; volunteers had to haul dozens of fancy dresses to the site.

Gowns for Grads has grown exponentially since then.

“My fingers are crossed. (This initiative) makes our kids feel special, and they should — every kid should,” said Jenna Malmo, a sewing teacher at St. John’s.

Malmo said she’s used the annual opportunity to browse second-hand grad dresses to talk to her students about sustainability.

She offers hemming and other alterations for inner-city youth who require adjustments after an appointment.

“When the girls come back to the school they are just so hyped about it. They love the experience,” she said.

Malmo noted that the spring outings not only build camaraderie, but they also ease the nerves of students who are about to make a huge transition.

Teachers, guidance counsellors and other employees refer students experiencing financial challenges to the organization.

In a news release, Gowns for Grads described its current situation as dire. Volunteers needs a new location “to survive,” it said.

Baker and her colleagues have spent previous back-to-school seasons collecting dresses, assessing inventory and preparing letters to alert high schools about booking appointments.

There are approximately 20 drop-off spots, including Selkirk’s Bella Ragazza Boutique and Paradise Spa and Coffee Bar in East St. Paul, that collect formalwear on the charity’s behalf.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca