Gowns will benefit Malawi

CANTON — Once proms and weddings are over, fancy dresses often end up collecting dust in the back of a closet, possibly never again seeing the light of day.

That won't stand if Linda G. Potter, Canton, has her way.

Ms. Potter plans to help women a world away in Malawi, Africa, by collecting prom gowns and formal dresses from girls and women in the north country and selling them for charity.

The dresses will be resold from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 27 at First Presbyterian Church, 17 Park St., with prices ranging from $20 to $50, depending on each garment's condition. Dressing rooms and refreshments will be available.

Proceeds from the sale will help women in poverty-stricken Malawi pay for acute needs such as blankets, bedding, clothing, school and medical fees and funerals.

"I thought this would be a neat women-to-women way to raise money," Ms. Potter said. "There's so many formal dresses hanging in the back of closets. It's silly not to give them a breath of fresh life."

Donations of gently used dresses and gowns can be dropped off from 7:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 18 at Canton Central School's high school auditorium, 99 State St.; from 4 to 6 p.m. March 19 at St. Lawrence University's Kappa Delta Sigma sorority house, 53 Park St., and from 9 a.m. to noon March 20 at First Presbyterian Church.

Donations of accessories, excluding shoes, also will be accepted. Such items include shawls, gloves, purses and jewelry.

Ms. Potter said she hopes the fundraiser will net at least $1,000 for the Women of Grace Widows' Fund, which is a joint mission project of the Watertown and Canton First Presbyterian churches.

"The money will go for very basic needs," she said.

Malawi, considered one of the poorest countries in the world, is plagued by high rates of malaria, HIV, AIDS and malnutrition. An estimated 200 people die of AIDS there each day.

In July 2008, Ms. Potter was among a group of eight women from the Watertown and Canton First Presbyterian churches who traveled to Malawi equipped with supplies to help women and children.

A partnership continues between the two north country churches and two Malawi natives, Grace Chiumia and Sam Chirwa, who manage the fund in their country.

This year, the Women of Grace Widows' Fund has established a $12,600 budget.

Besides helping Malawi women with basic needs, this year the fund plans to provide micro-loans for 50 widows totaling $3,600 and metal roofing for three houses at a cost of $2,100.

For more information about the dress sale, call 386-4364 or 322-5669.