Making Memories Bursts at Seams

   by Dee Appel

It appears Making Memories has been bursting at the seams, (wedding gown seams, of course,) for the past few years as Fran has criss-crossed the country with her 40’ trailer full of gorgeous gowns, traveling with the “Brides Against Breast Cancer -  Nationwide Tour of Gowns” to between 32-35 cities in a year! She has watched the network of Making Memories volunteers grow and developed a loyal following of incredible people who give so selflessly of their time and energies at every sale across America!! It is astounding to see so many returning year after year, it’s hard work moving those dresses and still, they come back with their smiling faces and willing hearts.

Some of those volunteers have become especially connected to Making Memories, and over time, have taken on more responsibilities. One of those amazing women is Barbara Raskin. Anyone who has worked with Barbara at a “Brides Against Breast Cancer” sale will tell you she’s a very hard act to follow! Her background as Marketing Director of Brides Magazine for nine years in New York City prepared her well for every aspect of the Making Memories project. Barb can recite the name of almost any designer and their entire history. She transforms gowns that might not ever have made it back to the sale floor due to beadwork needs, try-on damage and a plethora of other problems. She works tirelessly with the brides in the dressing room and can eyeball a gown and say yay or nay to its potential changes to suit any bride’s personal tastes. We think she needs even less sleep than Fran, and that’s saying something!!! Her mother, Dorothy, (another incredible woman in her 80’s) runs circles around many of us younger types at the sales, as well!

In 2005, Barbara opened a Making Memories storefront and warehouse in Santee, South Carolina, and, between running the store on weekends and receiving gowns into her warehouse that need the TLC only Barbara can provide, she still manages to travel around the country to orchestrate her own events, as well as help other chapters with wedding gown sales.

Barbara has become the Regional Director of the Eastern Division of Making Memories. She brings an amazing crew with her to our table, (except for Barbara, they’re all over 70….but you’d never know and we’ll never tell!!!), whose combined talents have made the Eastern Region a raging success. Click here to learn more about The Team Santee operation and for hours of operation of the store.

Meanwhile, back at the Northwest warehouse in Portland, Oregon, over 25,000 gowns have been processed. Today the warehouse holds several thousand gowns that are being readied for upcoming events.  As these beauties arrive they are cleaned, pressed, tagged, priced and sent on tour.  Damaged gowns that are unable to be sold as wedding gowns are turned into quilts and sold to grant wishes.

Closest to Oregon in proximity, the Snohomish, Washington, branch of Making Memories is operated by Brenda Chovonak who fell in love with the whole concept at a “Brides Against Breast Cancer sale.” Brenda has owned and operated her own vintage bridal operation for many years, and her many talents and giftings have brought a delightful element to the Making Memories family. She receives all of the retro and antique gowns that are donated to all our locations, and they often require much tender loving care, as you can imagine. Brenda is just the one to give it to them. Each gown seems to become like one of her children (she has lots of experience in that area, too, as a mother of two adorable little ones!!) She lovingly repairs and prepares any gown that needs her touch, and makes them available at many of the national sales. They are also available through her website.

The satellite operations of Making Memories expanded by one more chapter, launched in February, 2006. I (Dee Appel) am honored to say I am its Director. I volunteered with Making Memories in Portland, Oregon (my home state) for almost four years. I am a 10-year breast cancer survivor, most recently diagnosed Stage IV.  I have been on the inside of a wish and know what a gift it is. (See my granted wish story under “featured wish.”) It is my desire to help others experience that same joyful relief in the midst of such hardship. My daughter, Jennifer, and son-in-law, Mike and I operate the Southern Division near Beaumont, Texas. To learn more about what us Southerners are up to, click here!

Because of all of the wonderful regional additions, Making Memories will be able to bring many more “Brides Against Breast Cancer” events to many more cities around the nation, providing more funding to grant more wishes. Watch for a sale near you – and tell all your bride-to-be friends to shop with us and save their money for their honeymoon!!!