Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. and PACE Center for Girls of Lee County are partnering to collect new and gently used dresses for the annual Love That Dress!, the ultimate feel-good shopping spree of the year. On Thursday, July 25, donors can bring dresses for Love That Dress! to the Goodwill Boutique on First (2401 First Street, Fort Myers) from 5:00 p.m. through 7:00 p.m. Donors are also encouraged to bring clothing, and other household items to benefit Goodwill.
“We enjoy partnering with PACE,” says Madison Mitchell, spokesperson from Goodwill. “Goodwill’s mission is to assist those with disadvantages and disabilities overcome barriers to independence. PACE works with disadvantaged girls in the community. The two organizations are a good fit.”
The events will feature light refreshments, and entertainment. Attendees who bring donations for both Goodwill and PACE will be entered into a drawing for a Stay, Shop, and Dine prize package, to be drawn at both locations at the end of the night.
“We are very excited at the partnership with Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida,” says Kendra Sutton, Love That Dress! Chair for PACE Center, Lee. “Working together the last three years has been wonderful, and every year gets better,” continues Sutton. “Love That Dress! Is not just a success with our girls in mind, but, also a great success for our community,” adds Sutton. “It shows that non-profits partnering together, and assisting each other benefits the communities overall.”
Proceeds from Love That Dress! benefit PACE Center for Girls, a non-residential juvenile delinquency prevention and intervention program targeting the unique needs of girls, ages 12 to 18, facing challenges such as physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse, foster care, neglect, death of a parent, family history of incarceration and declining grades.
PACE is a 501c3 organization and works with young women between the ages of 12-18 living in at risk situations. PACE provides guidance and educational opportunities providing them with a path to a successful life.
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida provides programs and services for people with disabilities and disadvantages in Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties. Revenue generated by Goodwill’s 27 Southwest Florida Retail & Donation Centers is used to support programs such as the Goodwill L.I.F.E. Academy, a tuition-free charter school for students with developmental disabilities, and Goodwill’s Job-Link centers, which offer employment assistance and other related services. For more information about Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, visit the agency’s website at http://www.goodwillswfl.org.
