'Dream Dress for Less:' Moments to Cherish donates over 1,000 dresses to Agrace Thrift Store

Thursday, March 13, 2025

As reported by The Verona Press

On Monday and Tuesday last week, Agrace Thrift Store volunteers arrived at Verona business Moments to Cherish Bridals with large trucks and an even bigger task at hand: moving a donation of over 1,000 brand-new designer dresses.

It took two trips with a pair of 16-foot box trucks to transport the entire donation, which included everything from wedding and bridesmaid dresses to prom and quinceañera gowns. Volunteers then drove the collection from East Verona Avenue to East Towne Mall, the location of the pop-up store where community members can shop these 1,200 dresses beginning on Thursday, March 13.

Arlene DeForest, owner of Moments to Cherish Bridals, relocated her shop from Fitchburg to Verona about eight years ago now. In that time, DeForest has grown an extensive inventory that has become hard to manage on her own.

“I’ve been having some medical issues – lifting wedding dresses has aggravated everything,” DeForest told the Press. “I had to make the decision on what I was going to do, and I made the decision that I needed to downsize.”

Many dresses in Moments to Cherish’s inventory are discontinued and no longer available. DeForest and her husband Wayne ultimately decided to donate these dresses to Agrace Thrift Store, where sale proceeds benefit nonprofit Agrace and their mission to provide hospice and supportive care to patients across Southern Wisconsin.

“This is definitely rare – especially (a donation) of this size that’s brand-new,” Agrace Thrift Store retail manager Katie O’Grady told the Press. “We really hope that we can find some great homes for these dresses and give people a great story for a special day.”

Agrace Thrift Store’s “Dream Dress for Less” pop-up sale will be held at East Towne Mall from March 13-23, or as supplies last. There are a variety of styles and sizes available with prices ranging from $100 to $500.

All sales at the Dream Dress for Less event are final, so customers are encouraged to try dresses on in the fitting rooms. For more information, visit Agrace.org/Bridal.

“We’re really grateful to Arlene and her husband Wayne for donating all of this,” O’Grady said. “It’s truly once in a blue moon that we receive such generous donations.”