NEW GLASGOW, N.S. — There were hundreds of dresses waiting to be worn as Dorothy Lodge sat behind a small table and watched as people searched through them.
“It’s good to see the happy, smiling faces of the people who are benefiting,” she said.
Lodge was the owner of Sure Stitch and Inspirations Bridal in downtown New Glasgow for 38 years and when she closed the business decided to donate the dresses she had in inventory to Summer Street Industries, which on Oct. 19 held a trunk sale with them.
“It’s a good cause. They do a lot for the community and for the people involved,” Lodge said, when asked what motivated her. “Someone may as well benefit from all these things.”
Liz Lapier, Summer Street’s social enterprise manager, said it was great to be able to hold a celebration on Oct. 18 and honour Lodge’s generosity. At that event, executive director Bob Bennett spoke about the impact the donation had on the organization, from providing its clients employment to also having the potential to generate revenue from the sale.
Lapier said the trunk sale featured more than 200 wedding dresses alone, as well as more than 200 prom and attendant dresses.
“It’s pretty remarkable,” she said.
Erika Sloan was one of the people lucky enough to find her dream dress at the sale. She said that for her the choice was simple.
“Honestly it couldn’t have been easier. It was just there staring at me.”
She said the sale had a lot of variety and hopes that Summer Street holds another event like it.
“It actually means a lot to me because I used to work for this organization. It’s a great opportunity for the people who work here and the people we support.”
