OMAHA, Neb. — Max I. Walker announces the 13th Annual Ultra Chic Boutique dress sale. The 2020 event will benefit the Nebraska Alzheimer's Association for the third year in a row.
Dress donations are now being accepted across the Omaha metro area at all 22 Max I. Walker locations. Employees will clean, press, and store donated dresses at no charge. The dresses will then be sold at the once-per-year sale for just $30 each, cash only, with all proceeds being donated to the Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter.
“The funds raised for the Alzheimer’s Association,” the cleaners relates, “will be used to further their mission to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.”
The event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the venue A View On State Street, located at 134th and State Street in Omaha. The 2018 and 2019 sales raised a combined $38,000 for the association, it reports.
While the event started out seeking only prom dresses, Max I. Walker notes, it quickly learned that women had much more than just prom dresses in their closets, and they didn’t know what to do with any of them.
“The first several years saw an increasing variety of donations,” Walker explains, “dresses evolved to include wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, evening gowns, cocktail dresses, and more.”
The cleaners points out that, “The Ultra Chic Boutique is still the best place in Omaha to find an affordable prom dress, but the sale now attracts shoppers of all ages, as well as budget-conscious brides.”
The event is expected to have an inventory of 2,000 to 3,000 dresses for shoppers to choose from in sizes 00 to 26W, it writes.
“The Ultra Chic Boutique not only provides quality gowns to those who may not otherwise be able to afford them, but it’s also the perfect option for anyone wishing to reduce their carbon footprint,” the cleaner explains.
“An estimated 80 pounds of clothing are discarded by the average American citizen yearly. When clothes are not reused or recycled, they may end up in landfills, where they take hundreds of years to biodegrade,” it relates.
“Formal and other types of gowns that are specifically designed for ‘one-time wear’ are among the worst culprits when it comes to contributing to textile waste. The Ultra Chic Boutique ensures that many dresses which may otherwise be discarded can instead be reused,” Walker adds.
Additionally, after the sale, Max I. Walker says it will, “Donate all unsold dresses to the Open Door Mission (ODM) to distribute to families in need. ODM is an official textile recycler, meaning the few dresses they are unable to utilize will not end up in a landfill.”
Max I. Walker Cleaners & Launderers was founded by Max I. Walker on March 17, 1917, the company explains. Over the past 102 years, it has grown into a company with hundreds of employees serving customers in Omaha, Elkhorn, Papillion and Bellevue, Neb., and Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter serves all 93 counties in Nebraska. In addition to offering free education and support services, the Chapter also raises money for local and national research efforts through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and The Longest Day events.
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