A charity shop in Londonderry has been overwhelmed by the response to its “Say Yes to the Dress” initiative, which aims to help families with the cost of First Communion celebrations. Vivienne Wood, the manager of the Quirky Corner Charity Shop, decided to host the event after receiving a donation of 14 First Communion dresses from a local primary school.
The event, held earlier this month, allowed young girls to experience a proper dress fitting and choose a dress for just £20, with accessories and a gift bag included. Wood said she wanted to give the children the chance to feel like they were in a department store, with balloons, a table laid out with treats, and a private fitting area.
“I just wanted to ease the financial burden on parents and give the girls an experience they wouldn’t forget,” Wood said. She was inundated with offers from businesses keen to donate and help make the event special for the children.
The dresses were originally donated to Long Tower Primary School, but despite efforts to encourage parents to take them, they had ended up in storage. Claire Doherty, the school’s principal, said she felt the dresses could be put to better use and help people in the community, so she reached out to Vivienne.
“First Communion is a beautiful day, but over the years it has become so expensive,” Doherty said. “The price of dresses alone puts families under a lot of pressure, and I’m glad our school could help some families reduce that cost.”
The charity shop, which raises funds for a local addiction support charity, was able to grant appointments for the dress fittings on a first-come, first-served basis via social media. Vivienne Wood said the experience of seeing the children’s faces light up was one she will never forget.
“To see the wee girls’ faces light up, it was just amazing, an experience I will never forget,” she said.
