Groovy for a Good Cause: Vintage Fashion Show Supports Bridge of Hope

Fashion from years gone by will return to the runway in downtown Front Royal next month, but the afternoon is about much more than clothes.

Bridge of Hope Greater Warren will host a Vintage Fashion Show on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Stone Branch Art Center on Main Street. The fundraiser will feature vintage clothing, food, music, raffles, and plenty of opportunities for guests to have some fun while supporting local families facing homelessness.

Lori Oakes and Pat Moore of Bridge of Hope Greater Warren recently discussed the event during a Town Talk interview, explaining that this year’s fashion show builds on the success of a similar fundraiser held last year. This time, organizers are giving the runway a vintage theme.

“Food, fun, and fashion,” Moore said when describing what guests can expect. Music will also be part of the afternoon, and those who feel inspired by the vintage atmosphere are welcome to dance or even dress for the occasion.

The Stone Branch Art Center, located on Main Street across from the movie theater, will provide the setting. Moore said the venue is helping with tables and other needs and also assisted with creating promotional materials for the event.

General admission tickets are $35. A limited number of VIP tickets will also be available, offering front-row seating for the fashion show and a special swag bag. Moore said only 40 VIP tickets are planned.

Proceeds will support Bridge of Hope Greater Warren and its work with families experiencing homelessness in Warren County.

The local organization is part of the national Bridge of Hope program, which takes a longer-term approach to helping families move from homelessness toward stable housing and independence.

Rather than addressing only an immediate need for shelter, the program works with participating families over an extended period. Moore said families may remain in the program for about two years as they work toward greater financial and housing stability.

“We don’t just address one part of the problem,” Oakes explained during the interview.

Financial and housing assistance are pieces of that effort, but the program also connects families with trained “neighboring volunteers” drawn from area churches. Those volunteers provide something that can be difficult to replace with financial assistance alone: a dependable network of people willing to help.

That support might mean helping when a child is sick and a parent needs to work, introducing a family to community resources, or simply being available as a steady friend.

The goal is not permanent dependence on the program.

“We all sometimes need a leg up,” Oakes said. “And so we’re a big leg up.”

Bridge of Hope Greater Warren itself grew from one family’s experience with the program. Moore said the local founder had once been living in a car with her young son before receiving assistance through Bridge of Hope in Harrisonburg. She later became a homeowner, established a career, and saw firsthand what long-term support could accomplish.

That experience led to an effort to bring the program to Warren County about two years ago.

The organization now hopes to help more families locally, particularly those with children. During the interview, Oakes and Moore discussed the difficult circumstances some families face when living in vehicles, motel rooms, or other temporary accommodations.

The program also employs a trained professional who works directly with parents and children. Oakes stressed that the program is structured around an established model rather than simply providing informal advice or short-term financial help.

Supporting a family over an extended period, however, requires money. That is where events such as the Vintage Fashion Show become important.

In addition to ticket sales, Bridge of Hope Greater Warren is seeking businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring portions of the event. Opportunities include sponsoring individual models, tables, or the event as a whole. Organizers said they are also willing to work with donors interested in supporting specific expenses, such as food or centerpieces.

Pat Moore is serving as a contact for sponsorship inquiries and can be reached at 540-305-9937.

Organizers hope the afternoon introduces more residents to Bridge of Hope while providing an entertaining way to support its mission. They also hope those who enjoyed last year’s fashion show will return, along with newcomers interested in vintage clothing and the growing local interest in secondhand and retro fashion.

Some of the models will be searching local shops and other sources to put together their vintage looks before taking to the runway.

And while the clothes may offer a trip into the past, the money raised is intended to help Warren County families build a different future.

The Vintage Fashion Show will be held Saturday, Sept. 26, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Stone Branch Art Center on Main Street in Front Royal.

Town Talk, sponsored by National Media Services, Inc., is a Royal Examiner series that introduces you to local entrepreneurs, business owners, nonprofit leaders, and public officials who help shape Warren County. Conversations cover a wide range of topics about our community and the people making a difference.