Thanks to the efforts of the Elliott Row formal wear store, its customers and area residents — graduates from Penticton Secondary School are going to be looking a lot more dapper this year.
Over the weekend 75 suits and jackets, 28 shirts and pants, and more than 30 ties have been dropped off at the downtown Penticton store for the Fairy Grad Mother program at the high school.
“We wanted to do this because a nice suit is a great symbol, I know a lot of kids look at one and think that’s a symbol of success, that you’re making it and prom is one of those milestones in life and everyone should have a chance to look their best,” Matt Robertson, co-owner of Elliott Row in Penticton said.
Eilliott Row donated the Fairy Grad Mother program a few years ago from their own inventory but decided to open it up to the community this year.
Robertson and partner Lori Robertson were blown away by the generosity of their customers. The pair had put out they were collecting donated items on the business Facebook page and done a few radio spots and interest came in right away.
By Friday night 46 jackets and pants had been donated, 17 of them coming from staff at the Kelowna Mercedes dealership.
“People are hearing about it and calling or dropping things off. We’ve got old tuxes, great used jackets, top end items from companies like Hugo Boss and suits custom made in Italy. We’re hearing from them that they’re happy to donate to the students and glad the items won’t just be sitting in the back of a wardrobe.”
Elliott Row is still accepting donations for the next few days and then will be giving the items to the Fairy Grad Program where they will be given out to students at Penticton Secondary School.