Free Formal Wear Giveaway Approaches After Successful Donation Campaign

ALEXANDRIA, VA — After businesses in Alexandria and beyond collected community donations of formal wear, the community can get free items during a one-day shopping event.

Two Men and a Truck's Alexandria-based location is in the midst of its "Dress It Forward" campaign, one of the moving company's charitable efforts throughout the year. At the "Dress It Forward" event on Sunday, Sept. 14, community members can pick out a formal dress, pair of shoes and accessories free of charge. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Two Men and a Truck warehouse at 5910 Farrington Ave, Alexandria, VA. Registration is not required.

The "Dress It Forward" donation collections ran from early June to just after Labor Day weekend, Kayla Glicker, a sales and marketing manager for Two Men and A Truck, estimated that more than 500 dresses have been collected, as well as additional accessories like jewelry and bags. One of the Two Men and a Truck office rooms was completely filled with donations for the upcoming event.

"I was really taken aback by the amount of people that were willing to donate brand new items, and the rest were really just gently used," said Glicker.

Glicker told Patch that Old Town Alexandria's The Lucky Knot boutique has provided more than 100 new dresses and could provide more. Other businesses like gyms and salons, from Alexandria to Vienna and Manassas, collected donations as well.

At the Dress It Forward shopping event on Sept. 14, attendees can get one dress, accessory and pair of shoes per person. Depending on attendance, multiple items could be given to attendees. Dressing rooms will be set up on site, and a range of sizes will be available.

Alexandria-based tailor BARG Garments has offered to provide free tailoring services to attendees. The tailor will take measurements and bring them back to the shop. Once finished, the dresses will be able to be picked up from the shop at 108 North Alfred Street.

Glicker says the Dress It Forward will help residents who may be facing tight budgets. She added that the generosity of the community will give attendees plenty of options to choose from.

"Whether it's for just going to work, somebody getting a job, or going to a wedding, or having a wedding or going to anything homecoming, really, dresses are expensive in general. Clothes are expensive in general." said Glicker. "Somebody who really wants to feel good about themselves and maybe can't afford it, I think this would be a great event for them."

Two Men and a Truck works on various charitable campaigns each year. The next campaign will be "Movers for Meals," a food drive for the holiday season. Last year, the winter campaign called "Truckload of Warmth" collected coats for people in need.