| Comment # 5 Dear Friends, At my work each employee is asked to volunteer 16 hours a year to a community event. I have volunteered at many different locations and for many different charities throughout my 8 years of working at Ford. None, however have affected me like my volunteer day this Monday. Please take a few minutes and read my email. Think back to your (or your child's) grade 8 graduation or your Senior Formal/Prom. Remember picking out your dress (okay guys, so you threw on a suit and shoes but read along), searching for the perfect shoes and purse to match. Having your hair done, getting together with all your friends and going to both a pre and post party. Perhaps you and your friends were lucky enough to rent a limo for the night. These graduations are a big part of your high school memories. I, like many of you, was lucky enough to be able to enjoy such privileges in my life. Unfortunately, there are many teenagers this year whose families will be unable to provide their sons and daughters with the financial means to celebrate their graduation with the rest of their classmates. Graduation is the launch from your past to your future. It's the night you celebrate with your friends and classmates and reminisce about the past and curiously wonder with excitement about what your future holds. Each student should have the honour of experiencing this occasion. A co-worker of mine from the Plant, Wayne Renwick and his wife Ruth started a foundation called Inside the Dream. Inside the Dream is a non-profit organization run by volunteers and funded by donations from the community. Inside the Dream collects dresses, suits etc all year round and one day a year invites teens who are going to their Grade 8 Graduation or Senior Graduation who are financially unable to afford the beautiful dresses/suits that many of us have had the luxury of wearing. On Monday I walked into the Mississauga Convention Centre where the Inside the Dream "Boutique Day" was being held. There were snacks and beverages laid out for all the guests. The majority of the guests were girls but there were a handful of young men that came out that day. The girls arrived with their Mothers, Grandmothers, Sisters, Aunts, Fathers and friends. The room was laid out like a beautiful boutique. The dresses (all donated) were hung on racks and clearly labeled Small-XLarge. There was a table full of purses, a table full of shoes. There were accessories and hair clips, nylons and wraps. There were volunteer make-up artists and hair stylists and even seamstresses who were making alterations on the spot. Not long after I arrived Wayne introduced me to a young girl named Brittany and her Mom. Brittany was very shy but after two hours with me as her personal shopper she soon warmed up. Brittany was 14 and is going to her Grade 8 Grad in June. We immediately narrowed down what kind of dress Brittany was looking for (as a semi-pro shopper myself, I know this is the key to success). Brittany, her Mom and I quickly started searching the racks for a long, halter top-style, dress. Within seconds I must have had 10 dresses in my arms. With a bit of fear in her eyes, Brittany followed me to the change room where I had her try on all the dresses. In the course of time it took Brittany to try on the plethora of dresses I was continually gathering for her, I learned a little bit about her from her Mother. Her Mom told me that Brittany had recently lost 65 pounds (Britt was quick to yell from the change room that it was actually 70 lbs!!), an amazing feat for anyone- especially a 14 year old girl. Brittany was nervous to come to Boutique Day because she still felt that there wouldn't be a dress to fit her. Boy was she wrong?We found plenty of dresses that Brittany looked stunning in! Brittany's mom told me that Brittany and her friend were nominated by their school to be part of Inside the Dream for two reasons. The first was Brittany's weight loss and the second was because Brittany had been such a great friend and help to her classmate who had Cerebral Palsey and had difficulty with many physical activities. Their school thought both girls were well deserved candidates of such a special event which in turn will enable them to enjoy their Grade 8 Grad with all of their classmates in style. When Brittany had finally chosen her "dream dress", we found her some high heels and a darling little silver purse. The hair stylist did Brittany's hair in an up-do as her mother watched on carefully in hopes of recreating the look for the night of the graduation. The make up artists not only made up the girls faces but taught them how to apply the make up themselves. Once the girls had their ensembles complete, hair and makeup done, they were photographed by a professional photographer as a keepsake. From the minute I said Hello to Brittany to the time we said Goodbye, she seemed like a completely different young lady to me. Her smile was wider, her head was held higher and she stood a little straighter. I am honoured that I was maybe even a little part of that smile. The real reason for Brittany's happiness that day and the happiness of all of the many, many young ladies and men who took part in Boutique Day at Inside the Dream is because of an idea, a dream that Ruth and Wayne Renwick had. Their dream was to collect as many party/prom dresses and give them to those in need, to make some dreams come true. It was a beautiful day and I was so lucky to be a part of something so big. So here's where you come in? I need you to do two things for me?both of which will take a maximum of 15 minutes of your time. 1) Go home and look through your closet, your daughter's closet, your son's or husband's closet and look for any party/formal dress that you no longer wear (let's be honest if you haven't worn it in a year, you are NOT going to wear it again). Look through your fancy shoes, purses, wraps etc. We are also in need of young men's suits . Shirts, ties, dress shoes. Also plus size dresses. Once you've found these items call or email me and I will personally come to your house and pick them up. 2) Please forward this email to at least 3 people and ask them to do the same. Inside the Dream currently helps teens in the Peel Community but has been requested to help others. With your generous clothing donations or financial support there are so many dreams that will come true! Thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks for helping out. Comment by: Leanne Martindale |
| Comment # 4 I want to thank you and all your volunteers for making Inside the Dream 2005 such a lovely experience for the families that I referred. The helpers were so patient and made sure that the graduate and the mom felt very special. The dresses were amazing, and all the accessories!!!! Such a lot of work. Thanks for putting it together. Comment by: Elaine Lithwick M.S.W.,R.S.W. |
| Comment # 3 Hi Wayne, Hi Ruth, Thanks so much for making one of the girls in my class so happy! Her name is Ashley Michalek and she was so happy today in class after she got her dress on Monday afternoon. It would have been nice to have more students involved, but I can work on that for next year. Ashley is having such a positive last term of Grade 8 and this experience has been great for her. Comment by: Marc Proudfoot Grade 8 Convener |
| Comment # 2 Hi Ruth, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of helping out at Inside the Dream and the joy and transformation that it brought to the young ladies involved was incredible to see. If I could be a little fly on the wall for the graduation itself to see them in their full glory on their special day, it would be wonderful. As promised I am emailing you a note as a reminder that I would like to become more involved. You had mentioned that you are in need of people for the Board of Directors next year and, if you could let me know what would be involved exactly, I would appreciate it and hopefully will be able to join you and your team. Comment by: Sandra McLean |
| Comment # 1 Hi Ruth, just want to tell you just how proud I am of your efforts to make so many young people experience a wonderful event in their lives. The two young ladies I brought were so overwhelmed with how generous the event was. You gave them a sense of joy while looking forward to their graduation which would have otherwise would have been scary or in one case she would not have attended. The Guidance counsellor is now spreading the word and I am certain next year you will have a lot more to service. Thanks again and wish you all the best for the summer. Comment by: Patricia Codner, M.S.W., R.S.W. |