EL CENTRO — Four decades ago, Lydia Robles lost a friend forever after a car accident near Brawley put their dreams of attending their prom to an end.
Sabrina and a few other seniors passed away in 1984 during a traffic incident close to where Camacho’s Place is located.
The tragedy left a deep, sad trace in Robles, who over time has unsuccessfully attempted to pay honor to her late friend.
“I feel emotional,” Robles said in a phone interview after being asked about what her friend has inspired her to help other Imperial Valley girls this coming May. “I’ve envisioned this project in her memory. It has a special meaning for me.”
In the past forty years, Robles has tried to help high school seniors by getting donated dresses so they could attend their proms. However, the Soroptimist member approached agencies that have been unable to provide any help at all.
That story has come to an end after the proposal to collect donated dresses and accessories for economically disadvantaged girls was approved by Soroptimist International El Centro, launching the effort to make Robles’ dream come true.
Robles herself was unable to attend her prom and her graduation ceremony three years after the accident as her low-income family was unable to purchase the appropriate dress for both events.
Like Robles, many other Imperial Valley girls are incapable of dancing and having a fun time at their proms due to their parents’ lack of funds to purchase a new dress and the higher cost of life.
The effort has brought many hands to help provide the most dresses possible to senior girls through the Sabrina’s Wish Prom Dress Free Dress Giveaway Event.
As of Thursday evening, Soroptimist International of El Centro had collected 65 dresses that will get to dry cleaning businesses to have them ready right before the prom season. In those cases in which time or another type of constraint forbids dresses from getting neat, members will come up and clean them.
“We’re very excited because it’s the very first time,” Soroptimist International of El Centro Board President Ivonne Sotomayor. “We’ve given the prom dress giveaway our full support.”
Sotomayor added the prom dress giveaway event supports the organization’s mission to empower women and girls.
Soroptimist International of El Centro produced the flyer and talked to Cheval Farm to hold the event in a week, Sotomayor said.
“The response has been really, really great,” Sotomayor said, explaining that in some cases graduates cannot afford to spend $200 and more for a brand-new dress. “We must think of them too.”
According to Sotomayor, Soroptimist International of El Centro has another project named Dreams Program that fulfills girls’ dreams and wishes.
“I’m glad she’s making something nice out of a tragedy,” Sotomayor said regarding the event’s background and purpose to honor Robles’ late friend.
Robles said most of those donated dresses are used. Also, the organization has collected other items, including jewelry and even clothes and shoes for boys, which in turn will help the effort expand to a certain extent.
A Soroptimist flyer reads the inaugural giveaway will be open to all Imperial Valley girls who are expected to select from a wide variety of dresses of any size, kind, and color, as well as shoes, purses, handbags, clutches jewelry, and other items to help high school girls fulfill their dreams of attending prom.
“Prom season is almost upon us and it is a time that our high school girls want to shine and feel beautiful. With today’s expensive prices, we at Soroptimist of El Centro would like to help make this occasion for everyone,” the Soroptimist post reads. “That is why we are asking for your help! We know that sometimes things might be out of budget, so we are doing our 1st ever Prom Dress Collection Drive and Giveaway. Let’s give your beautiful dresses another chance to be loved! “
According to Robles, all those dresses that are not selected by seniors this time will be stored for next year’s event.
Robles said residents can donate summer dresses as well for those girls who prefer not to wear gala dresses. However, Soroptimist International of El Centro has asked future graduates interested in dresses to RSVP to make sure the organization has enough and the right dresses for all.
Sotomayor made sure graduates do not need to provide any financial documents or explanation to get their dresses.
Residents can directly donate dresses or funds to help in the effort to Soroptimist International El Centro by including a message the donation was made for the Sabrina’s Wish Prom Dress Giveaway.
The prom dress giveaway will take place on Sunday, April 7th at Cheval Farm from noon to 5:00 p.m., a week before the Soroptimist International of El Centro Ruby Awards ceremony at the Imperial Valley Food Bank.
For more information, call Lydia Robles at 760 562-9593.