Tons of feedback

Hello! I've been hearing from friends and friends of friends whom I haven't even met who want to donate dresses for local DC girls. These dresses will help make them feel more beautiful than they already are during the various high school events that will be among their most memorable.

I wish you knew how good you all are--and this is just for a high school dance dress drive. There are so many other charities/organizations out there that help people on a much deeper level than this; however, this is just a simple way we all can make a difference in the lives of young women in the DC area.

Kristen, a friend I haven't seen in years, had her mom drop off dresses and Lauren, a college friend, e-mailed her friends and they've contacted me about dress donations. One of them is interested in doing this in NY, which would be fantastic. My friend Mae, who has more friends than anyone I've ever known, will be giving dresses and she's been motivating her work friends to donate even though she has her own wedding to worry about in a week and a half! From San Diego to NY, I've heard from a lot of people who are donating and I really hope to get 100 dresses by early-to-mid September, so the girls can pick out their dresses by late September, just before Homecoming season.

Also, the blog's first poll has officially closed and 50 percent of you (and by you I mean the eight people who voted) have only worn the same formal dress once, 37 percent of you wore it twice, 12 percent (one person) wore it three times and no one has worn the same dress four times. Check out the new poll and vote!

I feel like we need some pictures on this blog. Maybe I'll post a picture of the first dress I receive. Any other ideas for pictures?

Please keep checking back and e-mail NotJustABridesmaidDress@gmail.com to find out where you can send your used formal dresses. Thank you so much!

So far, so good

So it's been about 24 hours since I started notifying people about this project and I've already had several e-mails and calls from friends who are sending dresses.

I even have two blog followers (Brandie and Stefanie) and I received my first e-mail at NotJustABridesmaidDress@gmail.com from trusty Maura P-C.

Even my 50-year-old mom is sending a dress. (Though I'm secretly afraid it'll be too risque for high schoolers.)

I think day two is shaping up to be a success thanks to all of you! Again, e-mail me at NotJustABridesmaidDress@gmail.com to find out where you can send your used dresses for local high school girls. I know wedding season is almost over and many of you have some fresh stock in your closets!

Welcome

I recently added yet another dress to my collection of once-worn bridesmaid dresses. Maybe if I had a reason to wear some of the dresses again, I would. But, I don't. This one is balled up on the floor of my front hall, next to my bag that I feverishly emptied one morning before work when I was looking for a pair of earrings. I decided I wasn't going to move it until I found something good to do with it or until it got in my fiance's way.

I live in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of DC and my goal is to collect 150 bridesmaid (or nearly new formal) dresses by Sept. 19, 2009. Shortly after that deadline, I will use a room at a nearby community center, where local high school girls can bring in slips of paper saying they've performed some kind of community service or a non-perishable item for a food pantry and trade it in for a dress to wear to their Homecoming dance.

Most of the homecoming dances around here seem to fall in October, so please mail your leftover bridesmaid (or other formal) dresses to me, tell your friends to do the same and help some area high school girls feel beautiful.

E-mail me at NotJustABridesmaidDress@gmail.com to find out the address where you can send the dresses. In the meantime, I'm finally going to hang up that black bridesmaid dress that's been on my floor for a couple weeks.