Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jennifer Martinez | A model walks down the runway to give the audience a closer look at the different...... read more read more
FORT WORTH, Texas - The frustration that comes with attending a formal event such as a military ball can be overwhelming.
The same is true for military spouses and their families, but thanks to a group of family readiness officers at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base called the Joint Communications Circle, many military wives, daughters, and sisters will be one step closer to being the “belle of the ball.”
The JCC held the third annual Ball Gown Giveaway Sept. 17, at the Navy Operations Support Center on base. Families from all military branches were treated to a fashion show, participated in a prize raffle, and given the chance to look through hundreds of dresses to find the perfect look.
“The event is intended for all military families of all branches that are stationed aboard this base, including girlfriends, mothers, wives, et cetera,” said Melissa McCracken, a volunteer for the giveaway. “The dresses are 100 percent donated by companies and private citizens. They bring in [the dresses] and the ladies get to come in and shop.”
The word “shop” is used loosely because women pay nothing for the dresses they choose.
“They find one, it fits them, they fall in love with it, and out they walk,” said McCracken.
The idea for the giveaway came from Brooke O’Dea, the family readiness coordinator for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41 and a member of the JCC.
She said she admired the giveaways she saw while working as a family readiness coordinator for Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. When she arrived at NAS Fort Worth JRB, she presented the idea to other Marine family readiness coordinators who were enthusiastic to try it out.
“We had no idea if we were going to get any response as far as dress donations,” said O’Dea. “We sent out an email that was spread all over the place. We ended up the first year receiving more than 600 dresses from all over the country from organizations to individuals and they even paid for shipping.”
O’Dea said the first giveaway was a big success, but it was exclusively for Marines, sailors and their families. Since NAS Fort Worth JRB is a joint base, the giveaway needed to be a joint event.
She said since the JCC began meeting last year, all branches now have equal representation for events like the giveaway.
“Everyone wanted to jump on board so last year was the first year we had the giveaway open to all branches,” said O’Dea.
This year, many families from the Marine Corps, Navy, Army and Air Force, active and reserve, were happy to attend the giveaway and save the frustration of going out and shopping for an expensive dress.
For Amber Phillips, a Marine spouse who has been stationed here with her husband for eight months, dress shopping can take hours. With the help of the volunteers at the giveaway, she said she found a dress in about 20 minutes.
“To find something that’s appropriate, within budget, and that fits? It’s a huge headache – a massive headache!” laughed Phillips. “[The JCC] made it a whole lot easier. They had consultants that helped you figure out your size and accommodated whatever styles you were interested in.”
While many ladies came in to find themselves a beautiful dress, some women brought along their daughters to score a dress.
“I have a daughter who actually got a dress for her senior prom today and she’s very picky,” said Laura Wedel, an Air Force spouse who brought her three daughters. “It’s not an easy task because the girls all have different tastes. There were several ladies who helped out and gave their opinion and it was nice to have the extra support [when looking for a dress].”
The JCC worked hard to make sure the giveaway ran smoothly and that the attendees received the assistance they needed.
“The JCC volunteers have been working nonstop since the end of last year, said McCracken. “It’s coordinating all the [external] volunteers, the music, and getting the escorts to come in. It was a lot of work.”
Many attendees expressed positive feedback due to the volunteers’ hard work and dedication to pulling off the event.
“It’s free, which makes me happy,” said 16-year-old Katelyn McKinney, an Air Force dependent who picked out dresses with her mother. “It’s a lot better than going to the store and finding you really like a dress and then you’re like, ‘that’s the price?’”
McKinney said girls her age decide they like the dress before looking at the price tag, but at the giveaway, that wasn’t an issue.
“You can just go up to a dress and say, ‘I like that. I’m going to try it on,’” said McKinney, “and if you like it you can take it home.”
McCracken said the many positive comments proved that the giveaway was a big success and she is hopeful that future giveaways will be just as successful.
“It went off without a hitch,” she said. “Everybody had a great time and everybody’s walking out of here happy, with dresses.”
| Date Taken: | 09.22.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.19.2013 09:56 |
| Story ID: | 118450 |
| Location: | NAVAL AIR STATION AND JOINT RESERVE BASE FORT WORTH, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 135 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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