BELFAST — Every year, teen girls in the Midcoast look forward to the one spring day when the door opens at the former Waltz Pharmacy building in Reny's Plaza in Belfast. When that happens, they will walk into a room filled with hundreds of free prom dresses, handbags, shoes and accessories to choose from — donated from all over the country. The Cinderella Project of Maine has been offering this volunteer-led free service since 2006, outfitting more than 1,000 girls who would not have been able to afford the gowns on their own.

This Saturday, April 4, the gowns will be given away to any girl in need with one stipulation—they must “pay it forward” and do a good deed for someone else.

One girl, Hayley Corson, 18, from Gardiner, was chosen by the Cinderella Project committee to receive a special package of prom-day preparation, including a donation to a charity of her choice in her name, as well as hair, makeup and other prom-related services. And best of all, the night before the giveaway this “Cinderella For A Day” is given first choice of all the Cinderella Project gowns available.

When she found out she won, Corson said, “It felt like the world was lifted off my shoulders. Now, I didn’t have the stress of saving my money or asking my dad for money to go out and buy prom stuff. It was pretty amazing.”

The Cinderella Project’s core values have always been about giving back to the community and they chose Corson for her positive contribution to her own community. In her winning essay, she offered a frank appraisal of her family’s circumstances and an impressive list of what she’s done to help others. Their questions, and her answers, follow.

Tell us your story. Why should we select you to be the Cinderella For a Day?

Last year for prom, I was really on my own to pick a dress and go out and try different ones on. I did my hair, and my makeup, hoping I looked great. It would be a dream to be Cinderella For A Day. Times like these are hard for me because I don't have the support I really want. With just my dad to drive us three kids around, it’s hard to do stuff. My dad does his best, but let’s get real, he doesn't have the time to go out and help me pick a pretty dress!

Tell us about a challenge you have faced or a struggle you have overcome. How has this impacted you?

Since I was a little girl, I have been taking care of my little brother and sister, because my dad was always working and it had to be done. I wouldn't change a thing though. They are my world and I love them and would take care of them for the rest of my life if I had to. From the start, it was never easy for my family and I, and it still is hard, but it made me who I am. It gave me the drive I need to always do my best and to make sure I am there for the people that need me.

Community service is a key component for the Cinderella Project and Cinderella For a Day. What do you do?

I have done a lot of things for community service and treasured and loved every minute of it. I raised money for the St. Baldrick's Children's Cancer Research Charity Foundation by recently shaving my head in front of the entire school. It was such an amazing and powerful experience. I have never felt such a community feeling given off from all of the high schoolers—it was as if we were all friends.  In the end, $1,500 was raised. It was the single most amazing thing I have ever been involved in. Another thing I have always enjoyed was working with students that have special needs. I would go in on days when I had study hall and help the teachers out. I would actually teach math and help with reading. Every year, our school requires us to go out in the community and help out in some way and it’s called "Day of Caring." This sounds great and dandy, but let’s be honest, nine out of ten kids fool around the entire time and leave the work to the kids, such as myself. I value hard work, and I loved “Day of Caring.” Yeah, it was a little tiring, but to see the results after a day’s hard work was totally worth it. This year, I also went and helped out at the Boys and Girls Club in Gardiner, raking leaves and picking up the kids’ playground. The year before, I helped restore the bike path at the Gardiner Middle School, and the year before that, my sophomore year, I cleaned gravestones. My freshman year, I went to the Veteran's Cemetery and raked all the leaves up. In middle school, I volunteered to help the kids with special needs in gym class.

Tonight, April 4, before the giveaway, the Cinderella Project of Maine is hosting a "peek night" for the public, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The peek night will be a chance to celebrate the Project’s donors, sponsors, volunteers and this year’s Cinderella For a Day winner, as well as a chance for the public to see the space and get to experience a little bit of the magic of the project. Corson will be picking out her gown and accessories tonight with the help of her teacher and her best friend. “It’s exciting to be able to pick up the dress tonight, but I just want to be 100 percent sure about it, because it is kind of stressful.”

On Saturday, April 5, the giveaway runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the program’s flagship location at Reny's Plaza in Belfast, with a second giveaway scheduled later in Gardiner.

Updated: check out the gallery of photos to see what prom gown Hayley chose.

To find out how to get involved with The Cinderella Project of Maine, visit: cinderellaprojectofmaine.org

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com