InTheGlow, a new non-profit organization has been collecting formal dresses to give to high school students for free this homecoming season.
The shop where the dresses can be obtained is at 725 N. Hickory Ave Suite 300, Bel Air, MD 21014. Need for the dresses is not assessed, all you have to do to receive a dress is bring a high school ID. The shop is open Wednesday and Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The organization is all about girls helping other girls. It focuses on the concept of, “paying it forward.” This term is similar to the idea of karma, doing something good for someone else will come full circle and do something good for you.
Amber Kreisel, the creator of InTheGlow, explained the purpose of the organization, “InTheGlow is a non-profit organization that empowers young women through positive energy and optimistic thought.”
The first annual fashion show, called BeTheGlow, was held on September 22, 2013, at the Arena Club; the event was a huge success. The show didn’t just display the dresses, there were Body Jam class demonstrations and empowering self-defense displays. There were also several vendors that sponsor InTheGlow at the event, including but not limited to MaGerks, Fortunato Brothers Pizza, Harford Heart’s Magazine, Texas Road House, and Saxons.
Around 40 dresses were modeled at the show; the models were mainly Harford County High School students. Some of the models wore the dress that they planned to wear to their own homecoming dance.
“I think it’s a really great program that will help a lot of girls in the community,” stated Lexa Goffin, an Edgewood High School student. Goffin plans to get her dress from InTheGlow.
Dresses can be borrowed and then brought back, instead of being worn once and never being taken back out of the closet. You can borrow a dress and then bring it back for the next girl to wear to her own homecoming.
The organization was started with five of Kreisels’ dresses last April, but the inventory grew to over 850 dresses, all collected from multiple drop-off locations from around the county.
This is only the first campaign from InTheGlow, Kreisel hopes one day to be able to do workshops where you learn resume building, interview skills, what to wear to an interview, plans to have after high school, etc.
The shop will be open until November 1st, 2013 and then plans to reopen in the spring. You can visit www.betheglow.com or email [email protected] with any questions.