The Oxford Library has already received its first dress for this year’s Hope Closet drive.
“It’s one of the most unique frocks I’ve seen to date,” said Teen Services Librarian Alissa Bach, who has been doing this since 2008. “Lots of flowy layers and ruffles in different, miss-matched patterns.”
Hope Closet is a nonprofit, volunteer-run boutique open for only one week a year ahead of prom season, usually in early May, at First United Methodist Church in Royal Oak. The Closet gives away free dresses to young women so they can attend special high school events regardless of financial limitations.
Since its founding in 2003, they have helped send young women to the prom in every school district within 50 miles of Detroit. They have between 3,000 to 5,000 dresses in storage at any given time.
In-person appointments are required. Clients must show their student ID or proof of high school attendance, then they can shop, no questions asked.
Ahead of the boutique, the library will collect dresses, shoes, jewelry and wraps, “basically anything a girl might wear to prom or homecoming,” for the entire month of March.
Just in time for spring, clean out your closet, and bring items to the teen services desk at the library.
Of course, they ask that the dresses be clean, with no stains or tears, and appropriate attire for a high school event. They will have a receipts available for those who wish to declare their donations on their 2020 taxes.
Most years they collect between 70 and 100 dresses. In 2013 they had over 200!
“We get inundated every year,” Bach said. “We usually have a garment rack. One year we got so many dresses, the rack broke!”
The exact dates for this year’s boutique have not yet been decided. They are usually posted on the website, HopeCloset.com, in April.