Grad Town shopping experience helps graduates look their best on grad night
Graduation is an exciting time in a young person’s life and it’s often the culmination of years of hard work.
However, not everyone can afford new clothing so graduates can feel and look their best on grad night.
This is where Trellis Society’s Grad Town steps in to help.
Saturday, at Trellis Renfrew, located at 731 13 Ave NE, graduates were invited to explore a wide selection of fine clothing, including dresses, suits, skirts, blazers, blouses, ties, pants, tees, purses, sunglasses, heels, sneakers, and more.
“So obviously, like with cost of living, everything is just so expensive. A dress is hundreds of dollars and that is a lot of money that a lot of us don't have in this in this time,” says Kadie Hughes a Trellis Society volunteer.
“Any kids in the community that have any barriers accessing formal wear, like suits or dresses, they can come to our event, pick that out for free. And then they have something really great that they feel confident and excited to wear in for their graduation.”
The clothing is either free or available by donation.
“Having something like this that removes that barrier so families can still enjoy the grad season and have fun finding an outfit,” says Hughes.
Keegan Dueck, a Forest Lawn High School student, was one of about 40 youth who stopped by Saturday and he agrees.
“Not everyone can get an outfit this easily,” Dueck said.
“I go to Forest Lawn High School, so that specific area is known to be kind of more on the lower end of like the classes and a lot of my friends would have actually really appreciated an opportunity like this.”
Dueck also appreciates the thought that went into ensuring this event was inclusive for everyone.
“There's just so much here you get to meet new people. You get to kind of explore the colors that suits you your own style, what you prefer and whether you like masculine clothes, androgynous or feminine, there's kind of like just something for all of that here.”
In addition to the clothing; Del Mar College was there to offer some hairstyle tips while Mac Cosmetics was there to help with makeup.
If someone does make a donation after finding their outfit; every dollar raised goes back to Trellis Society to support other teens, toddlers, families, and friends in need within the community.
Its services range from housing, family and child development, to clinical, employment and cultural supports.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovakia's populist prime minister shot in assassination attempt, shocking Europe before elections
Slovakia's populist prime minister, Robert Fico, was shot multiple times and gravely wounded Wednesday after a political event in an attempted assassination that shocked the small country and reverberated across Europe.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
Ontario's 'Crypto King' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge slammed into a bridge pillar in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a smaller and separate island that is home to a university, officials said. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION If you think you can’t focus for long, you’re right: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.