Cape students filling the 'Closet'

  

Cape Elizabeth High School juniors Zoë
Gillies, left in mirror, and Mackenzie Leighton,
compare some of the outfits available from their
new nonprofit, Cape Closet, founded to provide
 dresses to their peers who may lack the means
 to attend prom night.

CAPE ELIZABETH — A group of girls at Cape Elizabeth High School have launched a drive to ensure that no one is forced to forego prom night for lack of financial means.

Their new organization, Cape Closet, is a chapter of national nonprofit Becca’s Closet, founded in 2003 to distribute lightly used gowns and dresses to girls who might not otherwise attend what should be, they say, one of the most memorable events of anyone’s high school career.

“We don’t really know what the need is,” said Russell Packett, director of Cape Elizabeth Community Services, which is serving as the girls’ sponsoring agency and storage facility. “In the end, it might not even be the needs of Cape Elizabeth residents that they’re meeting. But either way, these girls are doing something really fantastic and we’re just really excited to be a part of this great project.”

A kickoff event to take in tax-deductible donations has been set for Nov. 17 at Cape Elizabeth Community Services, with another to follow at a date to be announced. The girls then plan to distribute dresses at duel events in March, in Cape Elizabeth and Portland. Although participation will be based solely on the honor system, the group hopes to reach girls who are truly in need by asking high school guidance counselors to distribute event tickets in Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, South Portland and Portland.

Cape Closet owes its existence to Cape Elizabeth High School junior Zoë Gillies, a young woman who already has logged a long history of charitable and philanthropic works.

“When she was in the first grade, she asked me if she could be in a club that helps people,” said her mother, Kim Gillies, noting that, because no such group appeared to exist, an undaunted Zoë went on to found Caring Kids of Cape Elizabeth.

By eighth grade, Gillies' work won her recognition in the form of the Secretary of State’s Good Citizenship Award and, in 2010, the entire Gillies clan was picked to represent Maine at a Celebration for Family Volunteerism at Disney World.

So, it may not be surprising that, earlier this summer, when Gillies learned of Becca’s Closet from an older cousin who lives in Florida, her first thought was, “I want to do that.”

Becca’s Closet was founded in memory of a girl not unlike Gillies. In May 2003, 16-year-old honor student Rebecca Kirtman took time from her cheerleading duties to single-handedly collect and donate more than 250 dresses to peers across South Florida. When she died in car accident three months later, Kirtmans’ family and friends vowed to keep he spirit of giving alive by expanding on her motto, “Little things can make a big difference.”

Since then, Becca’s Closet has expanded to student-run organizations in 34 states, with Maine groups including Hodgdon and Searsport, in addition to the newly-founded Cape Elizabeth chapter. Meanwhile, the primary group has expanded to offering scholarships and other opportunities for girls, in addition to the annual dress drive.

Gillies recruited five other girls to help her launch Cape Closet, including three sophomores, to ensure the chapter continues after she graduates. All five agreed there was a need for such a group.

“Coming from Cape Elizabeth, we don’t see it that often,” said junior Mackenzie Leighton, “but we definitely thought there are a bunch of girls in Cape who are never going to wear their prom dresses again – they wear it once and then never have anything to do with it – so they might be willing to donate for people in communities around us.”

“We’re targeting Portland, South Portland and Scarborough, but even in Cape we think there are some people in that place where they would benefit from this,” said Gillies.

A Scarborough High School counselor said he is glad to see the new program.

"It's not a huge phenomena here, given our demographic, but it is definitely an issue," said Ryan Soucie.

Last year, he said, there were two girls who dipped into a student assistance fund at the school for help with dresses, and one boy who couldn't afford a tux.

"It does happen," said Soucie. "I think we would welcome anything that makes the prom experience more real, more normal, for all students."

That's exactly the point, the students said.

“It’s true we’re not sure yet of the need, even in our own community, but we think this is something a lot of people just don’t talk about, because they’re ashamed,” said Leighton.

“It’s not just dresses,” added junior Sarah Flaherty. “It’s also shoes and accessories, like purses. There are so many things that go into prom that other girls might need. Prom is one of those things where everyone deserves to get dressed up and feel special and have that experience, it’s something every high school girl should get to do, but it’s so expensive.”

“I though this was a great way to help girls in my area because I went to prom last year and I know how just how expensive it can be, for just one night,” said Flaherty.

Among the more expensive accessories are flowers, and Fiddleheads Florist, on Shore Road, plans to offer a half-dozen gift cards for corsages, boutonnieres and bouquets.

“We are going to give then and they can distribute them to the girls or couples they feel are most in need,” said Fiddleheads owner Lauren Springer. “And we’ll also give more of the same that they can raffle off at their kickoff event.”

“I think this is a really good, really smart idea,” said Springer. “Lord knows I have a lot of dresses in my closet, including a lot of bridesmaid dresses, that I’d love to see go to a good home.”

Gillies says, yes, even bridesmaids dresses, although famously maligned, are welcome donations. Potential donors should feel comfortable donating any style, without fear that it may not meet the current trends and tastes. More importantly, she adds, those who may feel the need to take advantage of Cape Closet should not be put off by any social stigma or reticence to ask for help.

“Of course we’re going to keep everything confidential,” Gillies said. “We just want to help other girls get to prom because it’s a really special thing in a young girl’s life,”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” agreed sophomore Devin Maguire. “After all, if you want to go to prom, you want to have a really great experience. You shouldn’t have that burden of thinking, ‘This is costing me so much money.’ So, this is a really good system of helping with that.”

“I am so proud of them all, this is a really great bunch of girls,” said Kim Gillies. “I think this is a win-win for everyone. It connects girls who are able to give back with girls in our communities and other communities who may be in need. Even for families who are not poverty stricken. This can take the pressure off anyone who is struggling for any reason.

“And it’s fun,” she said, suggesting a bilateral goal of cross-class bonding. “I mean, who doesn’t like prom dresses?”

However, while Cape Closet can help with dresses, and hope to attract a seamstress to their cause to help with alterations, there is one thing that can’t provide – each girl still has to turn up her own prom date.

A CLOSER LOOK

A kickoff collection event for Cape Closet will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Cape Elizabeth Community Services, 343 Ocean House Road. Drop off lightly used dresses, gowns, shoes and accessories at event, or call 767-2734 to arrange for pick up, or go to beccascloset.org for more information.