As high schoolers get ready to celebrate proms across the Finger Lakes, one Cayuga County group is helping to ease the financial burden of buying a prom dress.
Created by Morgan Demcovich and Kim Jones, Madeline’s Closet has set up shop at the Inns of Aurora’s Woodhouse Building (378 Main Street, Aurora, NY ) to offer free prom dresses to girls throughout the Finger Lakes.
Inspired by a similar event in Rochester, Demcovich, who named the closet after her daughter, told Finger Lakes News Radio “for us it was about the cost of dresses. [It] is so expensive that we wanted really every girl to be able to come, get a dress, not worry about cost, and be able to walk away and be able to go to prom.”
The space features a sitting area for parents and a bathroom changing area for the girls, complete with a full length mirror.
The pair has received roughly 150 dresses through donations which were professionally cleaned by Muldoon Dry Cleaners in Auburn.
Originally envisioned to serve nearby students, Madeline’s Closet has already seen girls from across the Finger Lakes make their way to Aurora to pick out a free dress. Started this year, Demcovich and Jones plan to continue this program in the future.
Madeline’s Closet will be open through Friday from 11:00a-6:00p and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00-11:00a. After that, dresses can be picked out by appointment.
Anyone who wishes to schedule an appointment or has questions can contact Morgan Demcovich at 315-729-7375 or Kim Jones 315-237-1158.
