Fairytale end to ball dress quest
A flood of kindness in taffeta, chiffon, satin and sparkles threatens to overwhelm Patea Area School.
The response to a request on TV asking for dresses so the students could enjoy their first school ball in 24 years has amazed principal Nicola Ngarewa.
‘‘It’s been an absolute blessing. We’ve been inundated with a huge response from across the country. We don’t have any room to put any more. It’s been amazing, well and above what’s required.’’
As well as the dresses and suits, there were boxes of jewellery, accessories and hundreds of pairs of shoes.
‘‘I have been talking to other principals in Whanganui and Taranaki. We are thinking of having a roving ball boutique, because the response was just so amazing.’’
Boxes of dresses were still arriving on Friday, but she asked that no more be sent.
Many of the garments arrived with touching stories of where they came from, she said.
‘‘One beautiful new dress arrived in soft pink tissue paper with a card saying: ‘I bought this to wear to my prom but I had a car accident and couldn’t go’... people have invested their emotions to help our school and see these dresses worn.’’
They had also received many offers of services from hairdressers and barbers and a hot rod company had offered to drive the students to and from the ball.
About 100 students were going to the ball on September 10. Everyone would be wearing donated finery. Students and staff who could afford to buy their own outfits were instead donating the money to other school projects.
The students who were being gifted the dresses to wear were humbled and appreciative as well as extremely excited, Ngarewa said.
‘‘They are all really giving young people, they are in voluntary lifesaving at beaches, they have part time jobs and are in every sports team going, they are good people.’’