Pop-up store in Barrie offers students free prom dresses
Prom season is in full swing as spring arrives, with many hoping to find that perfect dress.
Carole Allen, who has been providing prom dresses to the community for seven years, is extending her services to help those in grades 8 and 12 with graduation and prom attire.
Allen's pop-up store at the Kozlov Centre offers upcycled options, made possible by the generous donations of slightly used dresses, merchandise donations from various stores and cash donations from the community.
Last year, over 400 dresses were given out, and with the abundance of donations this year, Allen hopes for another successful event.
The dresses are free, but cash donations are welcome to help keep the program running.
The 2023 Boutique Days will be held on the following dates and times:
Fri., April 14 - 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sat., April 15 - 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fri., April 21 - 4p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sat., April 22 - 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fri., May 5 - 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sat., May 6 - 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
No appointment are necessary, and the store is still accepting donations of gently-used dresses less than five years old.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Minimum wage rises in six provinces, but is it enough?
Amid a cost-of-living crisis driving up food bank visits and economic anxiety, the minimum wage increased in six provinces today – but both advocates and critics fear it may not be enough to tackle the overarching problem.
Half of millennials and Gen Z living paycheque-to-paycheque in Canada while stressing about climate crisis: survey
Struggling under the rising cost of living and an ever mounting fear of the climate crisis, young Canadians don’t see a positive future for themselves right now, according to a recent national survey.
Couple and dog killed by bear at Banff National Park
Two people are dead after a bear attack in Alberta's Banff National Park.
Ontario expands pharmacists' prescription powers to include 6 more common ailments
Ontario residents can now access treatment and medication for six more common ailments at pharmacies across the province.
Taylor Swift watches Travis Kelce's Chiefs take on the Jets at MetLife Stadium
Taylor Swift couldn't just shake off another chance to watch Travis Kelce on the football field. The 12-time Grammy Award winner arrived at MetLife Stadium about 40 minutes before kickoff Sunday night to watch Kelce and his Kansas City Chiefs take on the New York Jets.
Federal prisoner with terminal illness granted parole on compassionate grounds to die outside of jail
A terminally ill federal prisoner, who has been fighting for a compassionate release to die outside of jail, has been granted day parole.
'A giant in life': Saskatchewan Roughriders icon George Reed passes away, aged 83
George Reed, one of the most prolific running backs in Canadian Football League (CFL) history and a legend of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, has passed away. He was 83.
5 dead after single-vehicle crash near Swan River, Man.
Swan River RCMP are investigating a single-vehicle crash that killed five people in western Manitoba Saturday afternoon.
Tim Wakefield, who revived his career and Red Sox trophy case with knuckleball, has died at 57
Tim Wakefield, the knuckleballing workhorse of the Red Sox pitching staff who bounced back after giving up a season-ending home run to the Yankees in the 2003 playoffs to help Boston win its curse-busting World Series title the following year, has died. He was 57.