Project School Formal offering free outfits for students in need
IT’S an experience like what you’d get looking for a formal dress or suit in a shop – except it’s free.
Community News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Community News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Project School Formal, which has been helping youngsters in need get the look they’re after for their big night since 2015, has grown exponentially in the last five years.
Now a truly national project, none of it would have been possible without Toowoomba hairdresser Gay Hold, who helped start it and remains the driving force behind it to this day.
Project manager Kim Stokes said this year there had been a lot of families impacted by COVID-19 who had reached out for help.
“They’ve lost businesses, they’ve lost jobs, finances have changed completely,” she said.
“And the drought is always a huge factor for families.”
Mrs Stokes said there had even been two students this week who were “effectively couchsurfing and finishing school”.
“So it’s really any student that’s in Year 12 that’s in need for some reason or another,” she said.
“We’re not here to be judgmental … we want to give you a bit of support so you can enjoy that end of year celebration like everyone else.”
Mrs Stokes said this year there’d been an increase in young men looking for suits, and there had been plenty of local businesses who’d come on board to help out.
She said the project had easily helped more than 100 students get their dream outfit so far.
The project has six weeks left to run, and organisers are encouraging Year 11 students who have formals early next year to book in an appointment and get their outfit.
To book a fitting time, head to the Project School Formal Facebook page and send them a message.
Make sure you bring your student ID along to your appointment.
Project School Formal is auspices by Base Services.
