Staff Sgt. Sheena Young, 341st Missile Wing command chief executive, top, and Tech. Sgt. Jenny Johnson-Newman, 341st Medical Operations Squadron NCO in charge of health management, pose for a photograph at the Cinderella’s Closet shop March 15, 2016 at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. The shop offers youth, teen and women’s dresses for every occasion from formal settings to proms, weddings and receptions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Collin Schmidt)

Staff Sgt. Sheena Young, 341st Missile Wing command chief executive, left, and Tech. Sgt. Jenny Johnson-Newman, 341st Medical Operations Squadron NCO in charge of health management, pose for a photograph at the Cinderella’s Closet shop March 15, 2016 at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. The closet’s initiative is to help military members and dependents save money while having easy access to women’s dresses and gowns for formal and non-formal events. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Collin Schmidt)

Cinderella's Closet open for business

Published March 17, 2016
By Airman Collin Schmidt
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Buying a high-fashion dress for a special event can be a costly endeavor for those who have their hard-earned money going to life expenses and necessities. In the Air Force, with many events for Airmen and their families to attend, the balance between buying a beautiful dress and covering the next car payment can be very delicate.

Luckily for those Airmen and dependents at Malmstrom, Cinderella's Closet is only a short drive away.

"Cinderella's Closet is a place for women and children to come and look for dresses to borrow for the price of dry cleaning," said Tech. Sgt. Jenny Johnson-Newman, 341st Medical Operations Squadron NCO in charge of health management. "Military functions and special events can become expensive and the CC was created to try to help offset the cost."

The closet offers youth, teen and women's dresses for every occasion from formal settings to proms, weddings and receptions, with many more styles available to fit any need.

All items can be borrowed up to 14 days prior to an event and must be returned dry cleaned with the dry cleaner's signature attached within 10 days after the event.

"We have dresses for all occasions as well as some shoes and purses," said Johnson-Newman. "We gladly accept donations as well. At the moment, we are just getting started and soon we hope to get more inventory."

Currently, the closet is open every Tuesday from 5 to 6 p.m. at Building 1145 and is ran by Johnson-Newman and Staff Sgt. Sheena Young, 341st Missile Wing command chief executive.

"The closet really helps families save money rather than going out and buying a whole new dress that is just worn once and sits in a closet," said Young.

"If you plan on attending a formal event such as an Annual Awards Banquet or Airmen Leadership School graduation and you or your significant other need an evening gown to wear, you can borrow a dress from the closet for just the cost of dry cleaning, it's as easy as that," she continued.

Young and Johnson-Newman hope to expand their store hours to accommodate more customers. All military personnel and dependents with a valid military ID are welcome to use the store.

For more information on rentals, attire or to make a donation, contact the closet at MalmstromCinderellaCloset@Gmail.com