Party Dress Collection Starts Monday at Westfield High School

Has the milder weather put you in the mood to do a little spring cleaning this weekend? If you find any party dresses in the back of closet that you can no longer use, consider donating them to Westfield High School's Paul Jackson Fund Club. 

Starting Monday, Feb. 18, the club will begin collecting dresses that would be appropriate for eighth-grade dances, bar or bat mitzvahs, junior and senior proms. Bins for collection will be in the high school's front lobby through Feb. 22.

The dresses and gowns will be sold from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 3 at St. Helen's Church, located at 1600 Rahway Avenue in Westfield. 

The sale of the dresses will benefit The Paul Jackson Fund, a tax-exempt charity that serves as a resource of last resort for individuals and families facing a financial crisis due to a debilitating long-term illness or disability.

The Fund provides grants to qualifying individuals in the tri-state area for health-related needs as well as for family and household needs.

Prices of the party dresses will range from $15 to $30 as the sale is not only a fundraiser for the Fund but also serves as an opportunity for those without the means to purchase an expensive dress to find one affordably. 

"We want to be able to give girls from all economic status' the advantage to purchase a dress at a nominal fee," explained Mary Doherty of The Paul Jackson Fund, who said she hopes more than 200 dresses will be available for girls to choose from at the sale.

For more information about The Paul Jackson Fund or to make a donation, visit the Fund's website http://www.pauljacksonfund.org/ or call 908-233-6110. If you have a dress to donate but cannot get it to the high school, drop off can be arranged by contacting Doherty at the number above.

Check back with Patch next week for more information about the dress sale.