After Julie Allen Bridals marketing director and co-manager Lauren Morehouse spent a week, roughly eight hours in total, sorting through dresses, she had gathered 415 to be donated to the Believe in Me Empowerment Corporation’s Prom Dress/Formal Giveaway.

The dresses were then sorted, bagged, and gathered in a front section of the South Main Street full service bridal salon on Friday, March 28, for Believe in Me Empowerment Corporation Case Manager Valerie DiNuzzo’s arrival. Ms DiNuzzo picked up and delivered the dresses for the Believe in Me Empowerment Corporation.

“People have started donating personally because they saw what a great job Julie Allen Bridals did,” Ms DiNuzzo said.

According to the Believe in Me Empowerment Corporation, the Prom Dress/Formal Giveaway is set for two dates April 15 and April 17 in New Haven and will offer eighth grade girls attending formals and high school juniors and seniors attending proms who otherwise would not be able to afford dresses, with attire for their upcoming events.

Mrs Morehouse said the dresses Julie Allen Bridals donated are all discontinued dresses that are no longer being cut by designers. Normally, she said, the dresses would be sold at a reduced price for Julie Allen Bridals shoppers, but the bridal shop was in need of making more room than normal.

Julie Allen Bridals owner Melanie Mattegat said the shop has donated dresses to other organizations in the past and learned about the Prom Dress/Formal Giveaway being planned by the Believe in Me Empowerment Corporation through a chain of family and friends.

“This is better than I ever thought this would be,” Mrs Mattegat said with the 415 dresses piled before her.

Mrs Mattegat also said it is heartwarming to be able to give to so many.

“You will make a lot of young ladies very happy,” said Ms DiNuzzo to both Mrs Mattegat and Mrs Morehouse.

According to Ms DiNuzzo, the Believe in Me Empowerment Corporation offers a range of services.

For more information about the organization visit its Facebook page, “Believe in Me Empowerment Corporation.” Ms DiNuzzo can also be contacted directly at Valerie.DiNuzzo.BIMEC@gmail.com or 203-772-2771.