With three racks of over 150 formal dresses at heavily discounted prices and no appointments needed, Shawville was the place to be for ladies in the Pontiac, on April 13.

In the basement of the Shawville United Church, the Fairy Godmother Shoppe invited the community, on Saturday, to freely browse its vast selection of high-quality, slightly-used, formal dresses at its annual Spring Open House event.

Open for women of all ages, the flamboyant collection of garments featured a variety of dresses, shoes, jewelry and other accessories which could be purchased all together for under $30.

With graduation coming around the corner, the Fairy Godmother Shoppe plays an important role for graduating students living on a restricted budget when it comes to selecting the right dress, according to employee Sara Knox.

“There are girls that haven’t been able to attend their prom because they don’t have the proper attire,” said Knox. “There are reasons why they can’t have it. We want to help girls feel special and give them that confidence they need.”

The goal of the event was to provide access to dresses for young girls who may not be able to afford a brand-new gown at a premium price, without the hassle of making an appointment.

“These beautiful dresses sit in people’s closets that were worn once,” said Knox. “These dresses should be out and be worn and enjoyed and fulfill people’s expectations and happiness.”

Usually, to make a purchase from the Fairy Godmother Shoppe, one must request a confidential appointment with a shop employee via Facebook.

As a non-profit organization, The Fairy Godmother Shoppe acquires everything in its inventory from a variety of donors, including local businesses and community members.

Maintaining a consistently high level of popularity each year, Knox believes the event’s success is all thanks to the community for spreading the word out and donating.

“The community’s been great,” said Knox. “The more we’ve gotten this out there, people have been very pleased to hear about this program and they’re more than willing to donate all kinds of things so it’s great.”

The money raised from the event will go towards two bursaries for Pontiac High School graduates and the purchase of new garment racks, according to Knox.

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