New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Group helps make the prom attainable for students in need
EAST HAVEN — Attending prom can be expensive, from the tickets and transportation to the dresses, suits and accessories. But one East Haven resident is lending a hand by creating an organization aimed at helping everyone attend prom.
Cherie Bicknell came up with the idea when the mother of a girl on Bicknell’s four-year-old daughter Kaylee’s pageant team asked whether Bicknell could help collect prom dresses for students in need.
That drive was for students in Danbury, but it got Bicknell questioning whether her hometown of East Haven — she’s an East Haven High School graduate herself — had a similar drive for students.
“I reached out to a few active members of the community and they said ‘no,’ ” Bicknell said of the town having its own such drive. “I reached out to the community through social media and they all loved the idea and we just kind of ran with it.”
Thus, Kaylee’s Prom
Land Boutique was born.
The organization is named after Bicknell’s
daughter, the youngest of her four children. She said she wants to instill in her children the love and importance of lending a hand.
“I try to teach them like, ‘hey, help people in need,’” Bicknell said. “You just don’t know anybody’s situation. I was a single mother with my two older children and I had help from others in the community. Those avenues were available, so any little help I can help somebody with, I’m more than willing to do that.”
Bicknell wanted to create more of a boutique shopping experience versus participants feeling as though they were at a consignment or thrift shop picking out their prom attire.
Bicknell enlisted the help of two active community members, Ann Penington and Annarose Russo, to create the drive, with other volunteers helping at two donation sites earlier this month.
In just two months, the team managed to create the entire program.
“The community was wonderful with donations,” Bicknell said. “I haven’t really counted them because there’s a lot but I want to say I have 300 dresses.”
Some dresses still have tags and were never worn after the pandemic led to the cancellation of proms and dresses could not be returned. Dresses that were donated, in cases with the tags still on, cost as much as $600. Other dresses are by designers Bicknell recognized from the pageant world.
Other donations so far include 50 pairs of shoes, accessories and items from small businesses, such as Attilio’s Men’s Clothing, which donated five tuxedo rentals. Flowers by Lisa is donating corsages and another local flower shop is donating corsages and boutonnieres.
Branford Academy, a cosmetology school, came up with a bundle of services it will provide, as well. Nail and hair salons have donated vouchers or gift certificates.
Bicknell and a friend are Paparazzi Accessories representatives and donated jewelry and accessories for students.
“My plan, depending on this year because it was kind of fast moving, is the total package,” Bicknell said. “I would love to provide that for your child.
You know, find your dress, find your shoes, here’s your accessories, here’s a voucher to go get your hair and nails done. The total package of where they want the glam and they just unfortunately cannot afford it.”
Kaylee’s Prom Land Boutique is not just a onetime event for Bicknell, who filed to become a nonprofit with the state of Connecticut. She wants to hold the event annually but also grow it to include not only the total package, but more towns to help more children in need.
“We’re just trying to make it here as the trial run, learn from it and grow from it,” Bicknell said.
Kaylee’s Prom Land Boutique, located at Hayes School at 1 Maple St. in East Haven, will be open for all East Haven High School students who need help with the financial burden of attending prom, and they can “shop” April 2.
The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is first come, first served, with limited appointments available, as well. Those interested in learning more or scheduling an appointment can email kayleespromlandboutique@yahoo.com.
“Just because of your financial situation, it shouldn’t affect being able to go somewhere or having a good time as a kid,” Bicknell said. “If I can provide this for them, hey, I just made a child’s day.”