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The heartbreaking story behind woman's second-hand dress store


A Queensland mother, who battled homelessness with two young children, has revealed the heartbreaking motivation behind her drive to set up an initiative to help disadvantaged teens.

Sam Harrison is helping struggling youths feel “10 foot tall and bulletproof” by offering donated gowns and suits for their Year 12 formals through an initiative called Formally Yours.

The idea behind the not-for-profit organisation was sparked from Ms Harrison’s own experiences and struggles when raising her two young children.

Ms Harrison’s daughter was in Grade 2 and her son was in pre-school when the Toowoomba family spent a year couch-surfing until a commission house became available.

Despite her financial struggles, the mother wanted her children to go to a private school to give them the best opportunities.

Sam Harrison’s two children have been ‘looked down upon’ for being ‘poor’ so she set up a second-hand gown service to help others feel equal. Source: Sam Harrison
Sam Harrison’s two children have been ‘looked down upon’ for being ‘poor’ so she set up a second-hand gown service to help others feel equal. Source: Sam Harrison

While her children were resilient through the experience of being homeless at a school where others came from more affluent families, Ms Harrison’s heart broke knowing her kids were being “looked down upon”.

“They were the poor kids going to the private school. I did my best to give them the best, and the things the other kids had,” she told Yahoo7 News.

Despite her efforts to make her children feel equal to the other students, Ms Harrison said parents at the school made the pair feel they were “not good enough”.

Ipswich second-hand dress store Formally Yours helps disadvantaged teens go to their formal.
Formally Yours has already helped 100 teens with free outfits for their Year 12 formal, including Courtney. Source: Sam Harrison

“I felt bad for my kids. They were still looked down on because they didn’t come from the flashy homes but they were just as good as the other kids.”

Empowering struggling school graduates

Heeding Mahatma Gandhi’s timeless mantra, “be the change that you wish to see in the world,” Ms Harrison, 46, set up an initiative to help boost the confidence of disadvantaged youngsters.

Formally Yours has already helped about 100 displaced, disabled, troubled, self-sufficient teens, and those from struggling families, to access second-hand but beautiful outfits so they can attend their Year 12 formal and feel equal to their classmates.

Ipswich second-hand dress store Formally Yours helps disadvantaged teens go to their formal.
Jessika is beaming with confidence in this stunning yellow gown donated by Formally Yours. Source: Sam Harrison

“I think these kids need more help to feel they are just as powerful as the other kids and deserve everything they can have,” Ms Harrison said.

“My vision is to try and encourage as many students to complete year 12. Along with this comes a feeling of accomplishment, self esteem, self worth, achievement. The feeling that they are equal to everyone else.”

Teens feeling ’10 ft tall’

Formally Yours is temporarily set up at a shop space at Brassall Shopping Centre in Ipswich, allowing high school graduates to try on donated frocks and suits to wear at their formal, and keep them along with the beautiful memories – free of charge.

The garments are donated at Ipswich Dry Cleaners, then collected to make available at the temporary shop.

“A lot of these kids have never even tried on, let alone owned, anything like what we give them. One young man had to be shown that the waistcoat goes on the outside of his shirt. He had never even tried a suit on let alone picked one for himself,” Ms Harrison said.

Ipswich second-hand dress store Formally Yours helps disadvantaged teens go to their formal.
Shania came into the shop to try on an outfit (left) and headed to the formal feeling like a princess. Source: Sam Harrison

“I want them to feel like they can hold those memories. Most pay it forward and donate the outfits elsewhere, the boys keep the suits and use them for [job] interviews after school.”

The transformations the garments make – both physically and for the teens’ confidence – are unbelievable, Ms Harrison said.

“They come in very hesitant… by the time they walk out, they are 10 foot tall and bulletproof.

“These kids from these environments need every hand they can be given to show people do care about what happens to them. That they are our future and we need to give as much positive and good helping hands as we can. That we love them for who they are not their environment. That they can be anything they want.”

Ipswich second-hand dress store Formally Yours helps disadvantaged teens go to their formal.
Daniel received a suit from Formally Yours so he could attend his Year 12 formal with long-time friend Maddie. Source: Sam Harrison

How you can help make disadvantaged teens feel equal

Formally Yours is not a registered not-for-profit, so it is not eligible for government funding and relies solely on donations.

Ms Harrison often has to cover costs from her own pocket while on a disability pension, but said: “To see the difference we make for these kids in their life, even just for a day, is worth it.”

She has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for ongoing costs and hopes to have a permanent shop so she can open all year round, to help students in need, like scholarship recipients and refugees who often have mid-year formals.

For more information visit the Formally Yours Facebook page.