Free dresses offered for formal school events

The Rock of the Redeemer will host the giveaway next Saturday.

A free dress boutique/formal wear event will take place March 7 in Elizabeth Township.

The event is open to everyone and will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at 999 Rock Run Road. Organizers will provide gently used formal dresses to students who may need assistance to attend a middle school or high school dance or formal.

The goal is to make every girl feel beautiful in a warm, respectful and supportive boutique-style experience, according to a flyer for the event.

“Our mission is rooted in community, compassion and the belief that every girl deserves to feel confident and celebrated,” the flyer states.

The event is being held through The Rock of the Redeemer, a 1-year-old nonprofit organization aimed to cultivate a nondenominational Christian community hub on the grounds of the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer, which has been at the location since the 1950s.

Daniel McLaughlin, president of The Rock of the Redeemer, told the Mon Valley Independent in December there is now a board of directors of 10 people with different backgrounds mainly from the Elizabeth Township area.

They also have 10 to 12 youth ambassadors who work under the board of directors, and they support them by helping at the event. It is a way for students to get service hours, and it is still in development. Carlow College senior nursing student Laci Schwirian came up with the idea for the dress event, according to the board of directors for the Rock of the Redeemer and Elizabeth Township resident Lori Montari.

Schwirian has been an ambassador of The Rock since the program’s inception in August 2024.

“She was an integral part of developing the free dress program from the start,” Montari said. “This includes setting and keeping up the dress boutique and reaching out to the community to obtain dresses and suits. It’s not just for Catholics, it’s all the denominations.”

They started pulling dresses to give to people who may need a dress for a formal dance from local school districts such Elizabeth Forward, Charleroi Area, West Mifflin Area, McKeesport Area and Ringgold.

After collecting for over a year, they have 80 to 85 dresses and some suits for guests to look through. Montari said they are beautiful dresses that are age-appropriate and stylish, especially for the middle school students.

“We have rooms for (students) to try (dresses) on. We are going to have a seamstress there that can help us,” Montari said. “She’s been helping get the dresses ready, so if something needs mended or spot cleaned, she’s been helping take care of that.”

If someone comes and they can’t find a dress for them, Montari is referring them to Angela’s Angels in Latrobe, which collects gowns, jewelry, purses and more, both new and gently worn, to have available for junior and senior high school girls to wear to the prom.

Donations are welcome, including new or gently used formal dresses and suits or monetary donations. Dresses can be dropped off at the Divine Redeemer House from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until March 7.

They are planning to continue the drive into the fall, according to Montari. Another dress event for Homecoming dances, winter formals and similar dances.

Montari encourages students to come by and see what their options are because they have a large variety.

“We work closely with the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer, and some of the sisters are on our board,” Montari said, “and it’s continuing their mission of working with the community, helping the community, and helping those in need.

“I have three daughters, so I had a ton of dresses that they wore at one time, and they just hung there. I would, myself, love to see somebody else get some use out of them. We just want to see girls be able to go to the prom or the school dances and feel good about themselves.”

Any questions can be directed to Montari at 412-439-1835, and anyone looking to book an appointment can email lori@therockoftheredeemer. org.

“We have rooms for (students) to try (dresses) on. We are going to have a seamstress there that can help us.”

LORI MONTARI