New dress shop wants to help?

Sisters Angela Shriver and Amanda Kosarek wanted to open a formal dress shop in downtown Davenport.
They did. But that is only half the story of why they established Blush Dress Shoppe, 320 Main St. Davenport.
Their mission is to provide girls with a fun place to shop for dresses. However, they also want to provide free, gently-used dresses to young women who cannot afford dresses for proms or homecoming dances.
They call it Dress for Every Girl.
"The whole idea is that every girl gets to go to these," Kosarek said. "We do not want a girl to grow up and think, 'I did not get to go to my prom or homecoming because we did not have the money.' Every girl needs to go to these dances. Dresses can get expensive and we do not want any girl to miss her prom because of cost."
The store will have a grand opening Friday. And the next day, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., they are asking people to donate gently-used dresses, especially those appropriate for homecoming dances. Kosarek said while prom dresses go all the way to the floor, homecoming dances are shorter and the shop currently has few used dresses to give way.
Schriver said to be eligible for a free dresses, girls must be referred by someone other than a relative, for example, a church leader or school counselor who is aware that the girl cannot afford a dress herself. That person must go to www.blushdressshoppe.com and click on "Dress for Every Girl." That is where they fill out an application. Once approved, the girl will be mailed an invitation to come to the shop and pick out a dress.
In addition to the special clothing drive, the sisters said they hope donations will take place all year long.
"That is disappointing when girls get older and looking back at their memories and know they were never able to go to a school dance," Schriver said. "We want them to have good memories."
Kosarek, who also owns Monkey Joe's entertainment center in Davenport, said she and her sister wanted the open a "full-service" dress shop.
They sell every type of formal dress for dances and wedding parties. However, they do not sell bridal gowns.
"We wanted it to be very glamorous inside," she said. "We have a big selfie mirror. We just really wanted to open a shop that was different and unique and make it a more fun experience for mom and families. It is a huge financial burden for families so we try to make it a personal experience.

"But at the end of the day, it is a business, we want return customers. If we make sure they are happy, and they find a perfect dress they are looking for, they will come back."