Eileen & Elizabeth's Closet
A Clothing Lending Library

Say YES to the Dress

The creation of this annual ECSHA community service project, started in 2009, is part of our organization’s goal of serving the needs of women of all ages. It is an inspired idea organized as a lending library closet of prom dresses and accessories for local high school girls in need of a gown for those end-of-the-year special school occasions. 

The idea came from Eileen Kremler of Gloversville, NY who donated 50 previously worn prom dresses to start the ECSHA collection, organized by project coordinator Nancy Baird Brown. St. John’s Episcopal Church in Johnstown graciously agreed to store the gowns and offered us a room for displaying them on dress selection days. Once the word spread that we had a use for prom dresses, donations poured in from closet-cleaners everywhere.

The Gamma Phi Beta Sorority sisters from Union College in Schenectady, NY also donated dresses, shoes and accessories in special clothing drives held on campus, and we now have over 140 beautiful gowns. Sorority sister volunteers join our volunteers at St. John’s on the announced dress selection days to set-up the display, offer advice, and help the high school girls find that perfect outfit.  

Each borrower leaves a $20. deposit for her selected items, which is returned when she brings them back after prom season.  We offer dress selection dates in January and April. In June the gowns are cleaned and stored for the following year’s special events.

Please send us an e-mail if you have appropriate items you would like to add to this special clothing closet.

CLICK HERE for more information including 2012 hours of operation.

ECSHA e-mail: info@elizabethcadystantonhometown.org

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Hometown Association
P.O. Box 753
Johnstown, NY 12095-0753
© 2010