Chebucto Connections's donated prom dresses damaged in storm

A charity that works with students in Spryfield is looking for help after a flood damaged some of their donated prom dresses over the weekend.

Bonnie Ste-Croix, the executive director of Chebucto Connections, received a call from her landlord on Sunday to see if her space on Herring Cove Road had any water damage.

"I fully came in expecting to see a dribble of water here and there and we were absolutely overwhelmed at how much water was in our building," she told CBC News on Tuesday.

"It was almost in every possible area of the building. I was kind of sloshing through."

Chebucto Connections runs Pathways to Education, a national course that helps low-income students complete their high school education. Since last year, the charity has also accepted dress donations to give their graduating students for prom.

On Sunday, when Ste-Croix checked the floor-length gowns "which we had so carefully put on the racks," they were soaked and salt stained.

Ste-Croix said desks and files were also destroyed, but seeing the sopping wet dresses meant for J. L. Ilsley High School students hit her particularly hard.

"They were all so excited about the dresses. A lot of the girls were looking at a lot of these dresses and kind of being hopeful," she said.

Her thoughts also went to the people who donated the dresses. Tracey Simms, the owner of Alyssa's Formals in Lower Sackville, donated 20 dresses and the charity picked up the boxes on Friday.

It turned out to be bad timing.

"It's a sad situation. It's not easy to find these items and to be struck down at the beginning of it. We're going to think of what we can do to help out," said Ste-Croix.

Some of the dresses may be sent to dry cleaners or tailors to be fixed. The landlord has even offered to cover the dry cleaning.

Chebucto Connections is trying to get everything done before Feb. 28, when the girls come and pick out a free dress.

"Fingers crossed," said Ste-Croix.