CHIP IN offers free prom dresses for those in need

For the second year, Community Helpers Impacting People In Need in Batavia has teamed with Zano Salon & Spa to provide free prom dresses to low-income and homeless students who could not afford to purchase a dress on their own. Given a choice of rent, groceries, other bills or a prom dress, the gown would lose, yet prom remains a "rite of passage" for high school students and, good or bad, memories of this occasion can last a lifetime. CHIP IN would like to make sure they are all good.

Katherine Dobbs, manager of Zano, and her associate Melinda Tennis have invited their clients to donate dresses to this cause and Zano customers and our community have rallied. CHIP IN has almost 100 dresses of all colors, styles and sizes. Joanne Spitz and Melinda Kintz lead this project for CHIP IN Batavia and both are astounded at the quality and beauty of these dresses. Many are worn once and several still have their price tags on them.

While the original intent was to support Batavians, the generosity and response from the community allows CHIP IN to share with any qualifying young lady from any area high school.

From 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays, April 11, 18 and 25, girls in need are invited to visit the Congregational Church of Batavia, 21 S. Batavia Ave. (Route 31), to try on and pick out a dress for their prom. Two additional "try on" days will be offered after school from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. Thursday, April 16, and Tuesday, April 21, at the same location. Parking and entrance is at the back of the church.

Those interested, can go to www.chipinbatavia.org/news-events/ to download the dress request form and have it signed by your school counselor to verify that you qualify. Bring the form with you and pick our your dress.

Students from any school are welcome.