GENESEO, N.Y. — A Geneseo mother is keeping her daughter’s memory alive by giving back to her community.
Deb Allen wasn’t able to take her own daughter prom dress shopping and formed “Claire’s Closet” in the hopes of giving young women who may not be able to financially afford their dream dress.
Claire Allen was just 14 years old and in her first week of high school when she was hit and killed by a car in September during cross country practice. Family friend, Jennifer Melenbacher first met Claire when the two ran in a breast cancer awareness race. She's now teaming up up with Deb to honor Claire the best way she knows how.
“Claire was very special to everyone in this community who knew her," Melenbacher said. "She exemplified kindness and compassion and love for all people and animals and humanity so for me it was just a way to take my grief, to take a communities grief and channel it towards something positive.”
Melenbacher was overwhelmed with the community support received within the first hours of announcing the event. Within 10 days she collected 190 dresses from people in Geneseo and surrounding communities.
“We have people, seamstresses are going to come the day of the event to do light sewing and lending of different items that we need," Melenbacher said. "Every day I come home and there’s a new set of dresses on my front porch. It makes me smile. ”
The special and unique experience of a mother taking her daughter prom dress shopping was a feeling Deb Allen couldn’t shake.
“She thought maybe if I could help another daughter," Melenbacher said. "I can’t help my own daughter, I can’t experience this with my own daughter, I could help someone else’s daughter have this beautiful experience of trying on dresses and picking the Cinderella dress of their dream. ”
Girls are welcome to come out on March 17 to Geneseo Central School to try on dresses, shoes and accessories; 60 time slots are available between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Girls can sign up for one of those slots through eventbrite.com under Claire’s Closet to honor the memory of a special young woman and find the prom dress of their dreams.