The woman who started a free prom outfitting service for teens who can't afford their own tuxes and ball gowns is closing down the service because of a debilitating illness.
Rigaud resident Lou-Anne Hood has outfitted dozens of graduates for their big day through her service called A Promise For Prom — which collects prom outfits for graduating high schoolers who can't afford one.
Many of the students she has served over the past few years came from foster homes and group homes, and she's seen some stunning transformations.
"Their whole self-esteem and their self-worth can depend on how they look on that day," she says. "And that's huge."
But now, stricken with severe fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, she was forced to abandon the project.
"If you can imagine barbed wire wrapped around all of your bones...the barbed wire is poking into your bones and into your muscles at the same time, all the walls being on fire," Hood says, "That's basically how I feel every day."
She reluctantly took to Facebook to announce she was stepping away from the project — but within hours of her post, her sadness turned around.
"I cried the first day after I posted it. I really was upset," she said. "I was hoping maybe one or two schools would help me out, get on board and help. When I got the response that in 24 hours, I had eight to 10 schools...I was too happy to be sad."
Hood says her collection of dresses, suits, shoes and jewelry will now be donated to those schools, and two other schools, she says, are looking to launch their own programs.
Through it all, Hood says she will keep her Promise For Prom web site and Facebook page open.
"I'll be a bridge. I'll be the bridge between the schools and the people who want to donate or the people in need, and I can direct everyone and help out that way, and still be a part of it."