Make Dreams Come True returns for fifth year

By Darren Lum

Published Feb. 26 2019

Finding that perfect little red dress or slick dashing suit is a definite challenge for young people living in the Highlands. Rather than travel out of the county incurring great cost and time area students can find formal attire for no cost with the community initiative Make Dreams Come True.

For the fifth year students from Grade 8 to 12 intending to go to their prom or graduation will be able to choose from a selection of close to 450 dresses and from more than a few dozen suits as well as shoes ties purses and jewelry.

Held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 9 at Castle Antiques’ attic in Haliburton the event has grown from a single day largely volunteer driven to gaining the support of local businesses and drawing people from outside the county through word of mouth social media and the news media.

The drivers behind it have been co-founders Jenn Abbott and Nancy Lowes.

The event just keeps growing as it has helped students with enhancing their formal experiences at dances and other social events during the year. Abbott said she continues to do this for the joy it brings the young participants and being able to give back to the community. She appreciates how this continues as the result of a concerted community effort.

“It’s a community that is coming together being able to help our local grad and prom students. Without the donations we wouldn’t be able to do it” she said.

In addition to the free clothing there will also be on-site tailoring and there will be gift bags and items such as nail polish available for free. Local businesses in Haliburton and Minden helped with donations while stores such as the Todd’s Independent Grocer in Haliburton Rexall in Haliburton Pharmasave Minden and the Highland Pharmacy Remedy Rx in Minden have donated make-up and related products.

New this year for participants are photo sessions with photographers.

Participants who agree to wear their ensembles from Make Dreams Come True in the photo are eligible to a free session that will be scheduled with Chantel Smith (Chantel Smith Photography) in Minden or Leeann Patricia (Leeann Patricia Photography) in Haliburton.

Anyone interested in donating articles of clothing or related items can arrange it with Jenn Abbott at 705-286-0906 or take articles to Castle Antiques in Haliburton.