By Angela Deines
Wendy MacDonald wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 ext. 235 http://editors.familyfeatures.comApril Bloxsom was one of several people who donated items Saturday.Turn a Trash Can into Treasure: Need an activity for your next neighborhood block party? Turn trash cans into works of art. Paint strips of chalkboard paint on the cans and let the kids label the bins for trash, compost and recycling. Use stencils and paint pens on wood crates for smaller collection areas in the house for newspapers or soda cans. The project also provides a great opportunity to teach everyone about how to recycle and why it is important."This is a good way to raise money for after prom and a less expensive venue to find a prom dress," she said. "There's more popularity in finding gently-used things and tailoring them to make them your own, making them your own style."For more information about Keep America Beautiful or to find Great American Cleanup events in your area visit www.KAB.org ."We just wanted to do it and see what happens," she said. "It's the perfect thing (to support the after-prom party). We give the kids a safe place to go after prom."Here's a tip to keep your linen closet organized:She can be reachedAngela Deines isGive New Life to Old Clothes: Get neighbors, friends or family together to host a spring cleaning clothing drive to collect and distribute gently used clothes to those in need. Set up shop at a school, church, park or where you work. Distribute trash bags in advance to those participating.Take it to the Bank: Keep America Beautiful's long-standing partner, The Glad Products Company, created a new campaign called The Glad Bag Bank as a way to distribute more than four million Glad ForceFlex trash bags to worthy causes, like the Great American Cleanup. Anyone who wants to host their own community clean-up event can visit www.TheBagBank.com to request free trash bags.Get Active: Cleanup projects not only provide an opportunity for your family to do good for the community, but to also bond and be active. Spend a weekend afternoon cleaning up a stream and then hike along the bank. After picking up litter on the beach, play soccer or Frisbee.Lee Geary, a THS parent, also donated several dresses, blouses and a men's dress shirt.Scripps Howard News Service"We're hoping this will become a tradition," said Shawn Johnson, a parent and member of the THS After-Prom Committee. "That every year people will look forward to the Prom Closet."a freelance writer in Topeka.Andrea Hartzell, co-chair of the committee, said about 75 items, mostly dresses, were collected Saturday, the first day donations were accepted. She said although the committee just recently got approval to begin the Prom Closet, members have been thinking about trying the concept for more than a year to raise additional money for the after-prom party.Towels: To get the most storage space for bulky towels, it's best to fold them in thirds lengthwise, then into a rectangle. Place on shelves at eye level or below, so the edges face toward the back for a neat appearance. If your closet is on the smaller side, consider rolling your towels for extra space.The concept of the Prom Closet is simple: The community is asked to donate used formal attire, including dresses, suits and accessories, on Feb. 13 and 20 at the First Congregational Church, 1701 S.W. Collins. The items then will be sold Feb. 27 to any high school student in Topeka and Shawnee County for $10 to $50, depending on the item. All proceeds from the sale will go to THS's after-prom party that follows prom on April 24. All donations are tax-deductable.The calendar says it is only February, but it isn't too early to start thinking about what to wear to prom later this spring.Keep towels and bedsheets front and center. Store seasonal or occasional items in the back or at the top of the closet, or in another place entirely, like the front-hall closet. Stack beach towels behind regularly used towels, or higher up with other less- used items. Bulky items like comforters, quilts and pillows that are for guests or that are rotated seasonally can be stored in vacuum- sealed storage bags called Space Bags.Hartzell said the Prom Closet is just one of several fundraisers this spring that will support the after-prom party that includes games and other activities with the "Planet Hollywood" theme. Hartzell said about 437 THS students attended last year's after- prom party with more than 100 parent volunteers.Sheets: A clever way to corral multiple sets of sheets is by storing them neatly in a matching pillowcase. If you have lots of beds in different sizes, try buying different-colored sheets for each one so you don't mix them up. Then, stack sheets in collapsible linen storage containers.
Andrea Hartzell, co-chair of the committee, said about 75 items, mostly dresses, were collected Saturday, the first day donations were accepted. She said although the committee just recently got approval to begin the Prom Closet, members have been thinking about trying the concept for more than a year to raise additional money for the after-prom party.
Author: Ann Marie Bush
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