Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council's Dresses for a Cause Prom Boutique was such a success in 2012 that the organization is bringing it back again.
"It was a pretty big hit last year as a fundraiser," said Matt Fosket, advocacy coordinator with Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center in North Platte and member of the council. "We did well and were very pleased with the response we got. A lot of people saw a need for something like this and the response we got from the community was huge."
The boutique features new and gently used prom dresses and accessories for $20 or less. Shoppers also receive 50 percent off dry cleaning from Orr's Dry Cleaning.
The event will be at the Platte River Mall on Friday, Feb. 22, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"We added Friday evening for people who may not be able to come during the day on Saturday," Fosket said.
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Proceeds from the event help provide free Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention training to adults in the community.
Stewards of Children is a nationwide program that has been shown to increase knowledge, improve attitudes and change child-protective behavior.
Topics included in the training are facts about the problem of child sexual abuse, types of situations where child abuse might happen, simple, effective strategies for protecting children, the importance of talking about prevention of sexual abuse with children and other adults and the signs of sexual abuse.
"We are planning on opening up the training to more of the general public," Fosket said.
Fosket said he is working with Mid Plains Center For Enterprise at North Platte Community College and expects to offer the training later this spring, in addition to his work with local organizations such as Voices for Families, Rape and Domestic Abuse program volunteers and Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA.)
Donations for the event are still coming in, Fosket said.
"We expect to have at least 250 dresses available," he said.
