Frequently Asked Questions
What Schools and Social Service Agencies Need to Know
How can I participate in the program?
A
school principal, guidance counselor or a social worker in the community
must refer a girl to Kenzie’s CLOSET. If you want to attend your
prom but cannot due to your family’s financial limitations, please
contact your school principal, guidance counselor or a social worker in
your community who knows you well. Tell them to visit Kenzie’s CLOSET
at www.kenziescloset.org for a referral
form or call 533-PROM.
You SHOULD NOT contact us directly yourself; Kenzie’s CLOSET only accepts referrals from schools or social agencies.
What will I receive?
You will receive a complete prom outfit: dress (sizes 0-32 are available), shoes, shawl, purse and jewelry. All of these items are appropriate for teenagers attending their prom and many have been donated by high school girls and their moms. The items are new or have only been worn once or twice. The clothing items have been dry-cleaned. Everything you receive will be ready to wear.
How do I get my prom attire?
Once you have been accepted in the program through a referral from your school or a social agency, you will be given the opportunity to make an appointment to go shopping at our boutique at 2010 Madison Road in O’Bryonville. The shop is open a variety of days and weekends during the prom shopping season (March through early May). The shop is conveniently located on a Metro bus route.
You must bring your student ID to your appointment. No ID, No Dress!
You must be accompanied by an adult if you are under the age of 18 in order to enter the shop for your appointment.
Absolutely no babies/children of any age, boyfriends or friends are allowed for insurance reasons.
In the store, you will be able to select your own dress, shoes, wrap, purse and jewelry from among the hundreds of items we have in our shop. A personal shopping guide will help you make your selections.
If any alterations are needed, we will have a seamstress there to make the adjustments. You may be able to take your dress and accessories home that day. Everything is free of charge, and the dress and accessories are yours to keep.
We have reserved a special time for you to shop, so if you have to miss your appointment for any reason, you must submit a written excuse to Kenzie’s CLOSET in order to be considered for another appointment.
If you must cancel your appointment for any reason, please call us immediately at 533-PROM so that we can give your time slot to another young lady.
What Schools & Social Service Agencies Need to Know
How do I refer a girl to the program?
Only high school principals, guidance counselors and social workers can refer girls to the Kenzie’s CLOSET program.
You need to complete this referral form and fax it back to 533-0019. Please fill it out and return it to Kenzie’s CLOSET as soon as possible. There is no deadline on receiving referrals. Our shopping days normally run mid-March through the first week of May.
Kenzie’s CLOSET will then contact you and let you know that the girl has been accepted and is eligible to set up a shopping appointment at the boutique.
Eligible girls are juniors or seniors in high school who are financially unable to attend their prom.
What types of items can be donated?
We are in need of gently worn dresses, wraps, jewelry, new shoes and other accessories — items that are appropriate for girls to wear to prom. Dresses should be in excellent condition, clean, modern and age-appropriate. All fabrics, sizes and colors are welcome!
If you represent a business seeking to make a major in-kind dress or accessory donation, please contact us for information.
Where do I take donated items?
Donations are accepted by appointment only from October through February at Kenzie's CLOSET, 2010 Madison Road. Please call us at 513-533-PROM to make an appointment to drop off your donated items.
Donated items also are accepted at these drop-off locations from March through May:
Any
Appearance Plus Cleaners
location (3505 Erie Ave., Hyde Park;
6812 Clough Pike, Anderson; or 18 W 3rd St., downtown)
Camargo Racquet Club, 8215 Camargo Rd., Madeira
Do you accept cash donations, too?
Absolutely! The continued success of Kenzie’s CLOSET is due to the generosity of people just like you who donate money to help us pay for dresses in sizes that are not normally donated (sizes 18-32). Monetary donations also help pay for racks and hangers for the shop, activities to build public awareness, etc.
Please make your check payable to Kenzie’s CLOSET and send to:
Kenzie’s CLOSET
P.O. Box 43285
Cincinnati, OH 45243
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, all donations are tax-deductible, including monetary donations.
When donating a dress or other items, please fill out a donation form, include a self-addressed envelope or e-mail address and attach it to the item to be donated in order to receive your tax-deduction letter. When sending in a monetary donation, please enclose a self-addressed envelope or your e-mail address to receive a tax-deduction letter.
We will send you a letter, acknowledging receipt of your contribution for tax accounting purposes, in about three weeks.
How do I organize a dress drive?
We have gathered tips and ideas for you on our Web site to help you organize a dress drive. We also have publicity materials, such as a promotional flier (download pdf) and a publicity notice, that you can download and use to promote your drive.
Please call 533-PROM for additional help and to have your event posted on the Kenzie’s CLOSET Web site.
Do you need volunteers?
Yes, volunteers are critical to the success of Kenzie’s CLOSET! During prom season (March 1 through May 15), we need help with all kinds of tasks. Please contact us to volunteer.
We need volunteers of all ages. High school girls are needed after school or on Saturdays for sorting and sizing dresses, shoes, etc. Volunteering for Kenzie’s CLOSET is a great way for you to get your required service credit hours! Women out of high school (18+ years of age) are needed to be personal shoppers for each young lady.
During shopping hours, we always need volunteer seamstresses on-hand to perform simple alterations on the dresses so that the girls can take them home that day. Those handy with computers can volunteer to help in the office with mailings, sending out letters acknowledging donations and other tasks.
Groups are also welcome! Increase your fun by contacting some of your friends and volunteering together.
How do I volunteer?
Please contact us and let us know your interests and availability and we will work with you to arrange a schedule. Whether it’s for one day or more, we appreciate your help!
Kenzie’s CLOSET is 100% volunteer-staffed, so it is only through your help that we can give deserving young ladies in the Cincinnati area the night of their dreams.
