Local woman collects and gives away prom dresses
WEST LAFAYETTE – Jessie Tubbs has a closet full of prom dresses that she is more than willing to share at no cost.
“Anyone can come look at them,” she said. “Income doesn’t matter. Everyone is welcome.”
Tubbs started her free prom dress giveaway seven years ago through the Family and Children First Council.
“People donated them to me and I got a bunch from Goodwill that I picked up for cheap,” she said. “Some West Lafayette Homecoming royalty have also given me their dresses after their reign was over and I also get bridesmaid dresses.”
The original idea was to help Opportunity School students, but when their prom was canceled she branched out to other schools.
She now has about 42 dresses that girls can pick from.
“I have different styles and colors,” Tubbs said. “There are big princess dresses, sequined form fitted ones and everything in between.”
There also are a variety of sizes.
“I have sizes 0-28, but most of them are size 8s and 10s,” Tubbs said.
She doesn’t do alterations, but can pass on some names of people who can help make the dress fit you perfectly or make an older one look like new.
“Big puffy sleeves on ones from the 1980s can be taken off and the wedding dresses I get can be dyed to make them different,” Tubbs said.
Accessories also can change a dress.
“You can add gloves, change a belt or spend a little extra on jewelry since the dress is free,” Tubbs said.
She plans to host a prom dress giveaway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 29-30, at Fischer Insurance Agency, where she works. If you can’t make the event or have a dress to drop off, feel free to call Tubbs at 610-7433.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: People & Places
Believe it or not, a group that performs the same function exists in Columbus. They are called FAIRY GOODMOTHERS. They do a wonderful job of making sure these ladies are just as beautiful as they can be on Prom Night.