LAKE Macquarie high school students are invited to Toronto this Saturday where they can “browse, try and take” school formal wear for free.
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The event will be held at Toronto High School from 9am to noon.
The school emphasised that the event is open to students from all local high schools – not just Toronto High.
The initiative is the brainchild of Vangie Hillyard who established From Us To You NSW, a campaign to collect unused and preloved formal wear and offer it for free to teenagers in need.
Students at Toronto High School got a sneak peek this week of the items that will be available this Saturday.
The school’s promotions and communications officer, Diane Johanson, said there was an impressive array of items on offer.
“There’s a great range of dresses, shoes, bags, jewellery, and boys’ suits,” Ms Johanson said.
I knew there were other families in similar situations doing it tough and some kids who may not be able to go to their formal because their family couldn’t afford it.
- - Vangie Hillyard, of From Us To You NSW
“There has been 50 suits donated by Shazzam, of Toronto, and they are expensive suits!”
Ms Hillyard told Fairfax Media school formals were some of her most cherished memories.
“I love, love loved picking out my dress for year 10 and 12 - I had both made,” Ms Hillyard said.
“But I knew it was a massive stretch for my Mum, she went without so I could have a beautiful dress, shoes and my hair done.
“I knew there were other families in similar situations doing it tough and some kids who may not be able to go to their formal because their family couldn’t afford it.
“I thought it would be horrible to be in that situation - where everybody around you is getting excited and looking forward to it and you miss out.”
And so she founded the From Us To You NSW campaign.
“I thought I’ve got some dresses that I’ll never wear again that I could give to high school kids and if I do, I’m sure a lot of other people would too,” she said.
“I thought someone should really organise this and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be me.”
Since launching her Facebook page on July 17 she has been inundated with dresses, pairs of shoes, shirts, suit jackets, jewellery, clutches, and hair accessories from labels including Chanel and Wayne Cooper. More donations are sought.