Francis Hotschilt wants to connect Year 12 students in need with free formal dresses

“All kids deserve to go to a formal”: How you can help this Northern Rivers resident make year 12 students’ dreams come true.

FORMAL READY: The project looks to create cinderella moments for teens in need.Photo Kelly Butterworth / CQ News

A formal is a teenage rite of passage but for many Northern Rivers students the associated costs of that end of year celebration make it impossible to take part.

Luckily, good Samaritan and resident Frances Hotschilt is helping bring back that 'Cinderella' moment for our teens in need but she wants your help.

Mrs Hotschilt, who runs Year 12 Free Formal Dress Hire Northern Rivers NSW, said more kids than ever before were missing out on their special day due to costs.

"There's so much need, it's not really spoken about because we're meant to be a wealthy regional area but there's a lot of hardship in the area," she said.

"Some families put out a lot of money for formal and the kids have that real pressure to compete.

"They will buy it but it means going without something."

Mrs Hotschilt said it was amazing the difference a beautiful dress could make to students.

"It's just a real boost for their self-esteem to know they can look really amazing," she said.

"They can get their nails and makeup done and have that really expensive side of dressing taken care of."

Despite an abundance of donations, Mrs Hotschilt said more help was always needed.

"I drive everywhere, I drive and find every resource I can, I wash the dresses and soak shirts," she said.

"What I also need is the kids, trying to get kids here and how to best reach out to them.

"After all, all kids deserve to go to a formal."

To get in contact with Mrs Hotschilt to check out her wares or help out, head here or contact her via [e-mail]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SERVICE, ACCORDING TO MRS HOTSCHILT

Hi, my name is Fran and I have a passion for our community and recognising a need to support those who are disadvantaged.

Hence why I have started this cause Suits My Dress to support year 10, 11, 12 students in the Northern Rivers area. This is a free service providing formal wear to students who are otherwise unable to afford the possibility of attending their formal, a special occasion made for them.  

A woman on the Gold Coast started this vision and we have basically run with it, she supports us with advice.

She has since closed due to personal reasons but has donated her dresses to several free formal wear groups to either start up or add to their existing.

Her name is Carol from (formerly Gift Of The Gown, Gold Coast).   

 This is an absolutely free service!

I have received some beautiful dresses and am very grateful to the community for your amazing generosity and kindness without your support this would be not be possible.

And, continuing to accept formal wear which consists of dresses, suits, accessories such as ties, tiaras, clutch purses, necklaces, earrings, heels, boys dress shoes (with thanks).

To enjoy the success of this continuing to operate, having a good selection for the students to choose from is important.  

No Profits 

Again, there are no profits made from this other than giving a student the opportunity to feel like they are important and giving them a chance to be the person that stands out in the crowd, the person that matters, that has purpose to shine like a bright light.

  I think that it's important to support our students and make them feel like they matter despite the obstacles in front of them preventing them from affording a dress or makeup or jewellery and accessories.

This makes the students feel special and creates positive memories for them as they start a new life outside of school.

 

To the students of year 10, 11 and 12

 As a young person growing up it was a financial struggle to try and find funds to put an outfit together, to get to the location and home again.

All of this to make your day special can be challenging.

And, so for you I am providing this absolutely free service to support make you feel amazing by giving you a dress to feel like you matter! You deserve to feel like you are a star! A prince or princess!  

The key criteria for this service is students who are financially disadvantaged, you are welcome to contact me via email [e-mail] or through your school counsellor or coordinator or any services in the community that feel the students you are working with will benefit from this support.

You can also contact through pm via messenger.

Please help make our students feel special for their formal.

I would make a time to meet the student and discuss what they're needing, working  with them to find what suits them best. It will benefit them if I get an idea of sizing etc so I can have some dresses ready for their arrival.  

If you are able to donate items

I would be very grateful for donations of dress jewellery, suits, clutches, hair stylists, makeup donations.

Popup areas for students to come and try on and apply makeup and have their hair made up would be the ideal.   Thank you so much in advance for all your care and support to this incredible cause in our community.

This is only made possible by donation of gowns or suits to make another students world special and is only made possible by the generosity of our community and local businesses.

Please visit and share my page to reach as many young people as possible in this wider community Year 12 free formal dress hire, Northern Rivers NSW  

I have partnered with a wonderful business in Lismore at The Curious Kookaburra in Keen Street. (Thanks Rebecca), you can drop all donations Wednesday to Friday.   

Originally published as How students in need can access free formalwear