Cinderella's Closet

A Collection of Stories

Turning Dresses Into Dreams

by KELLY THORNBERRY

CALLING ALL FAIRY GODMOTHERS ACROSS THE BLUEGRASS.

Local princesses need you!

That’s exactly the call that one Lexington woman answered. Fairy Godmother, Carrie Andrews, read a spring 2012 article by Merlene Davis, Lexington Herald-Leader reporter, about an agency that planned to take a trailer of formal wear to junior and senior girls living in West Liberty area after the spring 2012 tornado devastated the area.

That agency, Cinderella's Closet, is a nonprofit organization that dresses needy girls from head-to-to for prom through community donations of new or gently used clothing upon the referral of a school counselor, church or government organization.

And when prom is over, the girls keep everything they’ve been given.

The Frankfort Chapter, one of 13 chapters nationwide, made it their mission to aid West Liberty because there are no chapters in that area. It was a mission Carrie wanted to join.

"I'm in to fashion, I'm into dresses, and its exciting to be a part of something to help others with something that I’m already involved with in my spare time," Carrie said.

GETTING THE VISION TO EXPAND

Carrie, along with fellow Fairy Godmother, Kimberly Wade, joined the Frankfort Cinderella's Closet Chapter at a school in West Liberty where they went through a brief orientation with 50 other Fairy Godmothers, 10 seamstresses and several men who steamed the dresses. The orientations prepared them to serve nearly 300 hundred awaiting princesses.

The process of dressing each princesses takes 20-30 minutes. There are time slots they operate by, but they spend as much time as needed to make sure each girl has everything she needs.

Though Carrie initiated the trip to West Liberty to join the Frankfort Chapter, it was her friend, Kimberly Wade, who answered the call back home to start Cinderella's Closet of the Bluegrass Region which serves Lexington and surrounding counties.

"She came to me and asked if I would team up with her to get this project going," said Carrie. Carrie agreed, and nearly a year later they are preparing for their first big event 8 & 9 March 2013. No junior or senior girl is turned away as long as she can get transportation to the church.

ESTABLISHING THE BLUEGRASS CHAPTER

The Bluegrass Chapter officially became a ministry in June, and they are housed in North East Christian Church in Lexington, where Kim is an active member. The news of the group has spread by using Facebook, word of mouth, Mary Kay meetings and placing fliers around schools and various clothing stores.

Carrie will soon address the Ashland Oil Company in Lexington hoping for sponsorships.

The chapter received an anonymous $2,000 donation on the onset that gave them the ability to purchase industrial racks and other essentials to get the ministry going.

Cinderella's Closet originated as a ministry of Immanuel United Methodist Church in Lakeside Park, KY, and the bluegrass chapter uses the same model and motto as the original chapter that started in 2007.

By dressing each princess in style, they give them more than just a snazzy dress and a touch of bling. They give them dignity and the knowledge that they are loved. “They need to know that they are loved. They are loved by God and we want to do whatever we can do to make these girls feel beautiful. We focus on the experience, treating them with as much love and care as we possibly can.

Its a way to help with their self esteem."