The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Every girl deserves to be a princess on prom night, even those who can't afford the dress. So Dayton resident and Cinderella's Closet organizer Katherine Besst has decided to play fairy godmother.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," she said. "I really want to let these girls know they're special and give them something they're always going to remember."

The gift of glamour, freely given.

It started with a wish of her own. "I remember reading an article somewhere about a group helping girls get dresses," Besst said.

"I wanted to do it back when our own daughter was in high school, but I never did. I couldn't wrap my mind around the idea. But it's been in the back of my mind ever since."

Finally, last year, she decided she was going to do it. And she did.

She got onl ine and checked for other nonprofits in the area that might be doing something similar. She found a few in the Northwest doing inexpensive dress rentals, some just $10 to cover the cost of dry cleaning. But she didn't want to loan out prom dreams. That's when she contacted a group from the south called Cinderella's Closet.

It was just what she had in mind. "I contacted the woman, and she was just so full of blessings," Besst said. "She sent me all the information I needed."

Besst joined the organization and developed her own plan for the Touchet and Walla Walla valleys.

She would gather prom dresses, shoes, handbags and jewelry by the hundreds, though donations, Craigs List and by visiting thrift shops, and she would give them away to young ladies who needed them. For keeps.

"Cinderella's Closet provides formal wear to girls who could not otherwise afford to attend their prom. Through donations of new and gently used formal dresses and accessories, we are able to 'Turn Dresses Into Dreams,'" it reads on her website, www.cinderellasclosetwwv. org. So far, Besst has collected about 200 dresses. She plans to give the dresses away to young ladies in their junior or senior years of high school referred to her by schools, community organizations or social care agencies in and around Dayton, Waitsburg, Walla Walla and Milton- Freewater.

Her goal for 2011 is to make the dreams of at least 100 girls come true. "From the moment our princesses dance through our doors, they are greeted with an environment of grace, love and respect. It is our mission that they leave knowing they are cherished."

And this Saturday, Besst will provide a unique opportunity for local young ladies at the only Cinderella's Closet event open to the general public this year from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Harvest Christian Center, on Wagon Road in Dayton. Besst and her volunteers will be personal shoppers for the young women who attend.

Girls are not required to prove financial need. They just need to bring a student ID, proving enrollment as a junior or senior in high school. "I don't care where she goes to school," Besst said.

In a year's worth of collecting, Besst has assembled a treasure trove of gowns and accessories, from full, shimmering pink princess dresses to sleek little black numbers. She has a variety of lengths, sizes and styles. Her selection of shoes and accessories is a bit thinner, "but what I do have, they're welcome to take," she said.

" Going to prom is an extra that many families simply cannot afford," she said. Prom can cost families upwards of $500 today. "If I can put a little money back into a family's budget, that's a wonderful thing."

These are not your grandmother's prom dresses, either

"You may find just what you're looking for, and wouldn't it be wonderful if you could get it for free?"

If you have a dress or accessories you'd like to donate, or if you have questions about Cinderella's Closet or Saturday's event, contact Besst at cinderellasclosetwwv@yahoo.com or by calling 509-540-5647. The more dresses and the more volunteers the better, Besst said.

Cinderella's Closet is just for prom. "It would take a lot of the joy out of it if you did it more often," Besst said. But she has additional plans for the future.

"I have 200 dresses now," she said. "By next year, I would like to have 500, and the year after that 800. I can see this thing just growing and growing."

Schools and students who need projects can organize "dress drives," throw a Cinderella's Closet party to collect gowns and accessories, or invite Besst to open Cinderella's Closet at school.

At Lincoln Alternative School in Walla Walla, Besst brought in dresses for the young women to try on during lunch or other breaks. When they found one that fit, they could have it. She just asked that the school simultaneously hold a "dress drive" to replenish her stock.

Other visions include adding a Prince Charming element to her charity. Cinderfellas, as she'd like to call it, would collect money for young men going to prom to help cover the costs for tuxedo rentals.

And at Cinderella's Closet, she hopes one day to offer girls "the full prom package," pampering with a personal touch, like one might experience shopping at an elegant department store.

"It's not just providing a dress and accessories free of charge; it's giving an unforgettable experience to girls who may not otherwise be able to attend their high school prom," Besst said.

"I think every girl deserves to go, and each deserves to be in a beautiful dress Dear Editor: Once again the voters of Waitsburg will have an opportunity to choose who will represent them in city government. When considering how to cast your vote please consider that the current mayor and council have:

Continued to maintain the infrastructure with crack sealing of streets, repair of sewer liners, getting fire hydrants working;

Negotiated a longer contract with the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office in part to make budget planning easier;

Been working to have positive relationships with neighboring municipalities and other government entities ;

Participated in the Tourism Alliance to promote tourism in our region;

Been working toward 7th Street improvements including sidewalks as well as larger water lines and more fire hydrants;

And balanced the budget while maintaining the level of services to residents without increasing taxes.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact your elected officials and candidates and/or attend council meetings.

Sincerely,

Jim Davison,

Waitsburg