Several months ago, Boothbay resident Cheryl Lorrain was looking through her daughter’s closet. She was overwhelmed with the amount of beautiful dresses hanging up or piled on the floor, worn once for a special event like a school dance or prom, and never touched again.

Lorrain started thinking about families that couldn’t afford dresses for every event, and girls who might be missing out on what her daughter got to experience. She realized she could help using what was right in front of her, and “Dresses for Princesses” was born.

“I was looking for a project anyways, something to focus on instead of my fibromyalgia that I was diagnosed with recently,” Lorrain said. “This gives me a reason to get up and face the day.

“Every girl should have a chance to be a princess, and I can help make that happen through this.”

Since she started the project, Lorrain has collected over two dozen gently used prom dresses, along with informal dresses for dances, job interviews, the grand march, and even a tuxedo and sport coat for guys.

Many of the dresses used to be her daughter's. However, since the project started, Lorrain has also purchased a few dresses on the Boothbay Region online yard sale. Many other dresses have been donated by caring local individuals.

“I went to buy a dress from the yard sale last week, and I told the girl and her mom why I was buying it,” Lorrain said. “I paid for it and was walking to my car when the mom came running after me and gave me the $20 bill back.

“She told me to just keep it; she wanted to help the project.”

Lorrain also started her own Facebook page, Dresses for Princesses. “I connected with another woman in Wiscasset through the page who also has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia,” Lorrain said. “We’ve partnered up and she is collecting and distributing dresses for girls at the Wiscasset High School so they don’t need to come down to Boothbay.

“It’s given us both something to focus on other than the pain; it’s like our own support group.”

Juanita Kristoff, who owns Centah of Attention, is providing dry cleaning for the dresses. She is donating half of the cost for the cleaning, while Lorrain is picking up the other half. Kristoff is also providing a display rack and changing area so girls can come and see what is available, and try on dresses they like.

“When I saw my daughter going to events, I beamed with pride at how beautiful she always looked,” Lorrain said. “Now every mother can feel the same – and I have dresses for the moms to wear, too!”

Dresses are free, though the group does accept donations, which go toward defraying the cost of dry cleaning and towards the purchase of more dresses and shoes.

For more information visit the Dresses for Princesses Facebook page, or call Cheryl Lorrain at 207-380-4324 or Valerie Martin St. Pierre in Wiscasset at 207-315-5193.

Katrina Clark can be reached at 207-633-4620 or katrinaclark@boothbayregister.com. Follow her on Twitter: @BBRegisterClark or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BBRegisterKatrinaClark.