Family and Children’s Service organizes community effort to help others

With the economy struggling and home-based budgets tight, the expenses that come with prom night may be too much for some families to afford this spring.

As a way to help teens and their families keep their date with the prom this year, Family and Children’s Service (FCS) Thrift Store in Long Branch is now offering prom dresses and accessories at a nominal price.  FCS, which operates the store at 307 Branchport Avenue has collaborated with Investor’s Savings Bank, Brookdale Community College, New Jersey Natural Gas and many individual donors to collect lightly worn dresses from local fashionistas.

Over 125 modern, prom-perfect dresses are now on sale for the nominal cost of $15 each. Trendy shoes, handbags, and jewelry are also featured.

Sea Breeze Cleaners, with stores in Rumson, Middletown and Atlantic Highlands, has provided dry cleaning for all the donations.  
“We are happy to support this cause,” said Craig Ford, of Tinton Falls and the owner of Sea Breeze.  “We know this effort can make a difference in making a young girl’s prom night dream come true.” Ford is also a member of the FCS Corporate Advisory Council.

The program was developed by Samantha White, Manager of Volunteer Services at FCS.  “We’re grateful to so many people and groups for helping us secure donations and make this program possible,”she said.  “Proms are a special night for young girls,” White said, who likes the fact that FCS can play the role of a fairy godmother.

For more information, contact Evelyn Guerra or Samantha White at Family and Children’s Service, 732-222-9111.

Photo:  Samantha White, Manager of Volunteer Services, with one of the dresses being offered at the Family and Children’s Service thrift