Dress drive gives homecoming dance back to Valley Fire victims

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. (KTVU) - A Bay Area dress drive has succeeded beyond all expectations, and will help give the teenagers of Middletown High School the homecoming dance they deserve.

"When they heard there was a need, they rallied to the cause," Julia Steffen told KTVU, her living room lined with dozens of party dresses and formal gowns, many of them given by Steffen's colleagues at PG&E.

"They will have the opportunity to dress up and feel pretty and put on shoes and makeup," Steffen enthused, her house resembling a boutique.

The high school's homecoming dance was postponed due to the Valley Fire, which destroyed about 1,200 homes. In the ashes were outfits students had ready for the event.

Over the next two Saturdays, they will be able to browse on campus among these gently worn replacements: dresses in every shade, size and style.

"Fifty girls are going to come, over a day or two, and there's a good opportunity for choice," said Steffen, "so that's good. It's not slim ‘pickins!’"

The effort started in San Ramon, with Steffen's longtime friend, Nancy Rosenblum.

"We have short dresses and long dresses, some have tags still on them, brand new," Rosenblum said as she rifled through a rack full of dresses in her own living room.

"I think when there's a disaster everybody feels it, they want to do something, and they don't know what to do," observed Rosenblum.

She called Middletown High School and heard how the homecoming tradition was in disarray due to the fire.

Her goal was 100 dresses, but she'll be headed to Lake County with two hundred, plus eighty pairs of shoes, dozens of purses, and boxes of makeup, so every girl has what she needs for the big night.

Everything will be free, and no student will be turned away.   

"A lady from Connecticut called and asked, 'Can I send you some money,' Rosenblum marveled.

She will purchase gift cards to give students who can't find what they want among the donations.

"All we want these kids to have is a night to remember, we don't want them to think about their lost home, or the car they no longer have, just have a night to remember," she declared.  

Dresses have come from all over, streaming to Rosenblum's home and office, dropped on her porch or delivered from afar.

"I did have someone from New Jersey send me 45 dresses," she noted," and while none of this will bring back what they lost, it's going to make them feel some normalcy and that the world has not forgotten them."

At Julia Steffen's house, one of the dresses headed for Middletown was her own daughter's prom dress.

"I feel really good letting it go," Steffen smiled, "and if we can bring some joy into their hearts for one little moment, one little moment, it's going to be a great give-back."

The homecoming dance is Saturday November 8.

Many students could still use a limo or transportation service to get them to and from, since some are living further away from school than before the fire.

A generous florist would also be appreciated, to supply those all-important corsages and boutonnieres.