The following Vancouver Courier March 21, 2005, article talks about the dresses made by the Marine Drive Fabricland location to donate to the Cinderella Project.

Project helps fulfill prom dreams
By Beverley Ann D'Cruz-Contributing writer
When a shipment of fabric for prom dresses arrived recently at the Fabricland location on Southeast Marine Drive, the employees weren't sure what to do with it.

Each month employees at Fabricland are given an entitlement of $35 for fabric, with which to sew and create a window display for the store. After a month they are allowed to take their display home. When the prom dress material arrived, they were at a loss for whom to create the dresses for.

Janice Bourne, a clerk at the store, suggested the non-profit Cinderella Project, which helps underprivileged high school students in the Lower Mainland by providing them with clothes they otherwise couldn't afford for the prom.

"We needed to find people to sew for," said Bourne. "We heard about the project on the news and via the Internet and I was quite impressed by them so I thought we could do something nice."

While some employees didn't sew they all donated their $35 fabric allowance for the month of March. By the time the sewing was finished, the store had created and donated 11 prom dresses to the Cinderella Project for it's annual Boutique Day in April, during which students can pick out dresses and tuxedos for their big night.

Store employee Michelle Elliot said taking part in the effort was wonderful. She spoke proudly of the burgundy and gold dress and the matching vest for a male student that she created.

"I know what it's like to be in need so it's great to help," she said. "I am also going to donate another outfit that I don't use and have been telling friends and customers about the project as well."

Bourne recalled the excitement and enthusiasm among the staff who had an opportunity to go shopping and pick out the patterns for the dresses. She commended them on the hard work they dedicated to the project, which they completed in two weeks, despite the fact most of them are mothers with busy schedules.

Because the dresses are made by hand, store manager Terri McLennan hopes the young recipients will be inspired to see that tailor-made clothes are as nice as ready-made products, if not better.

"It's very personal and I hope the girls will be thrilled when they see them," she said.

She hopes Fabricland will be involved with the project in the future. Bourne said next year she wants to challenge other Fabricland stores to do the same for the Cinderella Project because it made employees feel good about themselves.

posted on 03/21/2005