With just weeks until the Barrington High School Class of 2024 prom, a local nonprofit held its second annual event to help girls get glammed up and ready for the big day – at no cost to the teens.
Barrington Giving Day’s second annual two-day “Giving Dreams Pop-Up Prom Boutique” brought out more teens this year than last to a boutique in The Arboretum of South Barrington for a shopping excursion where no money was exchanged at checkout.
Amy Hodson, of Carpentersville, from left, and Ines Delhors, an exchange student from France who is a graduating senior at Barrington High School in Barrington, work with personal shopper Lisa Ploder at Barrington Giving Day’s “Giving Dreams Pop-Up Prom Boutique” April 5, 2024 at The Arboretum of South Barrington. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
Ines Delhors, 19, an exchange student from France and graduating senior at Barrington High School, was among the dozens of girls would turned out to “Giving Dreams Pop-Up Prom Boutique” April 5, 2024 at The Arboretum of South Barrington. Barrington Giving Day, a nonprofit community organization as well as the name of its events, hosted the free giveaway. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
The “Giving Dreams Pop-Up Prom Boutique” hosted by the nonprofit community organization Barrington Giving Day on April 5, 2024 included accessories as well as clothing, all at no charge. The event was held at The Arboretum of South Barrington. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
The April 5 and April 6 by-appointment event was held in vacant retail space provided by the mall and its owner, the Heidner family of Barrington Hills. About 70 girls had access to prom essentials
“The Heidners and The Arboretum … are just bending over backwards to really make an impact in the community and welcome those in need and find ways to provide support,” said Barrington Giving Day Executive Director Dori Hough. “They’re making our mission even greater than we had originally thought.”
Barrington Giving Day is both a nonprofit community organization that offers charitable contributions to families of Barrington School District 220 as well as the name of the events it holds.
Prom for Barrington High School is Saturday, May 18.
While Barrington School District 220 serves the towns – in whole or in part – of Barrington, Carpentersville, Hoffman Estates, Fox River Grove, Deer Park, Tower Lakes, North Barrington, Lake Barrington, Port Barrington and South Barrington, invitation to the the prom giveaway was extended to students from other districts and towns.
Student guests came this year from Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville, Larkin High School in Elgin, Maine West High School in Des Plaines, Lake Park High School in Roselle, Streamwood High School in Streamwood and Glenbard East High School in Lombard.
Barrington Giving Day held donation drives where items like suits, dresses, purses, shoes, jewelry and other necessities for a prom look were collected. Also, local merchants make donations to enhance the prom experience.
Prom will be held May 18 for SD220.
Dori Hough, one of Barrington Giving Day’s consistent volunteers and event organizers. Squires, of the Barrington High School Class of 2015, said approximately 50 volunteers helped over the two boutique days, not including other volunteers who assisted at other times such as at the donation center.
Cindy Galley, of Barrington Hills, and Lucinda McDonald, of Barrington, volunteered at the prom pop-up by making alterations on sewing machines.
“To me, it’s just fun,” McDonald said. “I love to sew.”
Making the on-the-spot alterations is “high pressure,” Galley said with a smile.
Linda Kalebic, of Barrington, and Susie Shore, of Crystal Lake, were volunteers and personal shoppers who guided teens and their accompanying parent or chaperone through the boutique shopping process.
They helped students like Ines Delhors, 19, a graduating senior at Barrington High School browse through the offerings and choose what the girls like. Delhors, an exchange student from France near Paris, went to the boutique looking for a dark green dress but found white.
Delhors chose a white gown and accessorized it with a sparkly necklace and wraparound bracelet that had rhinestone bling.
“This is my first American prom and my last one,” the teen said.
Kalebic said the prom boutique, as a volunteer opportunity, “is super exciting.
“What they’ve done here is amazing,” Kalebic said of the boutique. “It’s well organized and I’m super excited.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer.
