The owner of two memory cards containing hundreds of family photos discovered in a donated dress, has been found.
Lisa Danton retrieved her memory cards Wednesday morning from Michelle Cherak, with PLEA Community Services Society.
The memory cards were discovered in the pockets of a graduation dress during this year’s Puttin’ on the Glitz, a two-day affair put on by the society, where high school graduates who wouldn’t be able to afford the formal attire to attend their graduation festivities, are able to pick out their own gowns, suits, tuxedos, dress shoes, jewelry, and accessories – at no cost.
“I just wanted to let you know that I located the owner of the USB memory cards we found at Puttin’ on the Glitz and I am meeting with her to return them,” said Cherak, adding that Danton mentioned she was moving out of the area soon and was thankful to have the memory cards back.
When the cards were first discovered Cherak didn’t know what the dress looked like that was tried on, or even if it was donated this year, because they keep dresses in storage from year to year.
She only knew that it had pockets and when the person put their hands in the pockets, the cards were discovered.
A volunteer gave the cards to Cherak.
Cherak plugged the cards into a printer to have a look.
“I didn’t really look through all the photos that closely, I kind of just scanned through some of them,” said Cherak.
On one card she discovered more than 100 photographs – some are of a child’s birthday party and some are of a family on vacation in Mexico, and some, she said, look like a going away party at work.
There were pictures were taken in front of Garibaldi Secondary and also in front of Jim’s Pizza, along 224th Street in downtown Maple Ridge.
On the other card there were around 30 photos.
The cards were found on Wednesday, March 16, the first day of the event. Cherak posted a photo to Facebook that night hoping to find the rightful owners, but to no avail.
Cherak was sure the owner of the cards were local.
“I’m sure it is somebody from around here, especially because they donated their grad dress, obviously. So they graduated probably withing the past few years, from Garibaldi, I’m assuming, but I could be wrong,” she said at the time.
Puttin’ on the Glitz was held at Thomas Haney Secondary on March 16 and 17.
The event has been down-scaled these past few years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, again, students came at allotted time slots to try on outfits. Before COVID there were hair and makeup artists and a photographer to capture the moment. However, this year they could only pick out their items and leave.
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Despite restrictions, Cherak said, they helped more than 30 students this year.
Last year, Cherak said, they had less students because they were unsure if graduation was even going to take place. Numbers are on the rise again, she remarked.
“It went well. Every kid, I think, went away happy with an outfit,” she said. “I was happy about that.”
Cherak is not currently accepting donations as the event just wrapped up for the year. She is hoping donors can hold onto their formal wear until they start taking donations again in September/October.
Anyone looking for information about the program is invited to contact Cherak via email at mcherak@plea.bc.ca.
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