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Shannon Heacock recalls the day last year when she and Jessica Thomerson came up with the idea to give free prom dresses to girls in Glasgow and surrounding counties.

“Jessica and I grew up with poor families. None of us have kids of prom age yet,” she said. “We said, ‘We need to do something about prom.’ Within an hour, we had the (Facebook) page rolling and people liking the page.”

The project became Belles of the Ball.

“Last year, we took close to 100 dresses donated. We did it really fast,” Heacock said. “Girls would come in if they needed a dress. (Volunteers) did hair, nails and makeup. We have people come in and do photos.”

Belles of the Ball’s prom dress try-on event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 4 at Your Morning Shot at 100 Indian Hills Drive in Glasgow.

“If there are dress sizes we don’t have, we’re going to try to find it and get it for them,” Heacock said. “The only thing we ask of them is if they know somebody who needs us that they tell each other.”

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Another group that does similar work is South Central Cinderella’s Closet, which is a ministry of Glasgow First United Methodist Church. The organization, also is made up of volunteers, had try-ons Saturday at the church. It also helps teenage girls in surrounding counties.

“It gives our young ladies a chance to attend their prom. They may not otherwise be able to go to the prom,” said Brenda Chaney, Barren County youth services center coordinator. “There are tons of caring individuals in our community who work numerous hours to get that set up.”

The girls selected a dress, shoes and accessories, which were new or donated. Seamstresses were on hand to make any adjustments. Each girl had a “fairy godmother” who helped them with their selections.

“They just pamper the young ladies who come in. We let the young ladies know how special they are and that they can achieve anything they want to,” Chaney said. “It’s more than just the dress. It’s to let them know they’re loved and let them know they’re cherished.”

Heacock said Belles of the Ball got a lot of last-minute calls from schools last year, and they hope to be better prepared this time.

In addition to hair, nails, makeup and photos, they are using money received from a local bridal expo to offer tuxedo rentals for boys and to buy jewelry and shoes, Heacock said. They are also trying to get restaurants to donate dinners for prom night.

“Dresses come from amazing volunteers in our community,” she said. “I had a woman who brought in a dress that still has tags.”

They also go to recipients and keep everything quiet if necessary, Heacock said.

“If they can’t meet us, we meet them. If they want to be discreet about it, we don’t have to let (anyone) know they’ve come,” she said. “We try to accommodate so that every girl is going.”

Last year’s group of girls came from Glasgow-Barren County, Metcalfe County, Caverna and Scottsville, Heacock said.

“We want other states to reach out to their communities and do the same thing,” she said. “All we want to do is make sure every girl has a chance to be the belle of the ball for one night.”

Cinderella’s Closet is a nationwide program. The group from Glasgow learned about it from a youth services coordinator in Lexington, Chaney said.

“We went up there when they did theirs, and we decided we wanted to have something like this in our community,” she said. “We go through counselors and schools and teachers and promote it that way.

“We see our kids all the time. We share information when we see something that would be helpful for them,” Chaney said. “Sometimes one good, caring, loving act can change a life for the better. When they’re helped, they in turn help someone else.”

Last year, 26 girls were scheduled. This year, 39 came from Glasgow-Barren County, Allen County, Caverna and Warren County, Chaney said.

“It’s growing. We have fundraisers and folks who donate money,” she said.

Cinderella’s Closet also makes volunteers feel good, Chaney said.

“It is a partnership. You see everybody coming together,” she said. “It’s a heartwarming experience for the volunteers. It’s a beautiful thing.”

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