A record number of prom dresses for Melissa's Closet and Crystal's Jewelry Box

Hundreds of teens left the Godley Park District gymnasium Saturday with smiles, sparkling gowns and a reminder that kindness can carry on a legacy.
A record 4,000 prom dresses were available during the 12th annual Melissa’s Closet and Crystal’s Jewelry Box, with dresses sold for just $5 each. More than 600 dresses were purchased as excited teens browsed racks of formal gowns and short dresses, with many walking out with multiple outfits for upcoming dances.
“We were able to give two formal dresses and two short dresses to every girl,” organizer Laurie Becker said. “We ask them to bring the dresses back next year so someone else could love their dress.”
The dresses were donated throughout the year through the 15 Whitmore Ace Hardware stores. That allowed for 1,200 more dress donations for this year alone.
“We received so many dresses this year there were honestly too many to count. We know we were close to 4,000,” Becker said.
Beyond the bargain prices and joyful atmosphere, the event carries a deeper meaning.
Melissa’s Closet and Crystal’s Jewelry Box was created by staff at Whitmore Ace Hardware to honor Melissa Michalowski and her best friend, Crystal Carr. The Reed-Custer High School seniors were killed in a car accident along Route 113 near Custer Park in December 2008. Crystal was 17, and Melissa had just turned 18.
The two friends never had the chance to attend their senior prom, which inspired organizers to create an event ensuring other students could experience that milestone.
“It’s an honor. I really think that she would be just so honored that they actually do this for her,” said Melissa’s mother, Deborah Michalowski, who was there on Saturday. She volunteers feeling like every year she’s helping Melissa attend prom.
The event began modestly in 2011 with just 120 donated dresses. Over the years, word spread across the region and donations multiplied. This year organizers collected nearly 4,000 dresses, filling the Godley Park District gymnasium with racks of gowns in every color and style.
Melissa’s Closet and Crystal’s Jewelry Box has now helped over 6,510 students find affordable prom dresses.
The event also raises money for scholarships for Reed-Custer High School students.
“We should have a good scholarship to give out,” Becker said. “We’ll be making that decision after we go through all the applications.”
Becker noted that Melissa’s Closet and Crystal’s Jewelry Box has applied for non-profit status which will hopefully open it up for monetary donations for outside organizations.
“The bigger it gets and bigger the expenses,” Becker added, “We spent $1,000 in addition racks just to keep up with the amount of dresses.
Becker said approximately 100 volunteers pitched in Thursday through Saturday. On Thursday it took Whitmore’s two box trucks and a van to haul all the dresses to Godley. On Friday it took the entire day for volunteers to sort and display dresses, shoes, jewelry and purses. On Saturday 43 volunteers who present to assist teens.
Despite the long hours organizing the event, Becker said the reward comes from seeing the joy it brings to families.
“It may seem simple, donating a dress, but it allows families to spend money on groceries and other necessities,” she said.
For Melissa’s mother, the annual event remains both emotional and comforting.
“I always like to walk around and look at some of the dresses that I think she’d like,” Michalowski said. “I always want to think in my heart that she goes to prom every year.”
Watching hundreds of young women leave with dresses they love helps ease the pain.
Through thousands of donated dresses and countless smiles each year, the memory of Melissa Michalowski and Crystal Carr continues to live on.