Low-priced gowns fund camp

By Tim Krohn

LE SUEUR — Lois Hutton figures it works out pretty well. Girls going to prom or women planning a wedding get a cheap dress, and kids who’ve had a tough time in life get a fun week at camp.

“People are thrilled about the prices and then they’re even happier that it’s going for a good cause. It’s a great feeling,” Hutton said.

Hutton runs Gowns & More out of the basement of her rural Le Sueur home. The side business (she works full time at Davisco) sells new and slightly used formal gowns. All wedding dresses are $180 and all prom, flower girl, mother-of-the-bride and other formal dresses are $30.

People buying the gowns write the full check amount to Royal Family Kids Camp, a St. Peter-based camp that allows kids who’ve been mistreated or abused to go to camp for a week each summer.

The camp was started locally four years ago and is sponsored by the Jesus Assembly of God church in St. Peter. (www.stpeter.rfkc.org)

Royal Family Kids’ Camp was founded by a California couple in 1985 and has 163 affiliated camps across the country.

Larry Spies, the director of the local camp, said the idea grew out of a video his pastor showed about the camp at Jesus Assembly of God Church in St. Peter.

“It was something I felt I had to do here,” said Spiess, a Web developer at Minnesota State University.

The local group has used a campground near Waterville the past three years and is using a campground near New Ulm for this summer’s camp in June. The group is hoping to raise enough money to someday have their own camp.

About 50 kids will attend. The kids are referred to the camp by social service agencies in Blue Earth, Nicollet and Le Sueur counties.

There is one adult volunteer counselor for every two kids at the camp. Every volunteer goes through training.

“It’s a safe and fun environment for kids to be treated special,” said Hutton, who’s been involved with the camp since its start.

Spiess said 75 volunteers donate about 10,000 hours annually for the camp. The group raises about $15,000 a year to rent the campground and operate the camp. “We have fundraisers, donations and an auction around Christmas. And Lois brings in a lot of money with her dress shop,” Spiess said.

The group hopes to get a big financial boost when Gov. Tim Pawlenty headlines a fundraiser in St. Peter June 4. Money raised will be put in an endowment fund to help other churches in Minnesota start camps. The camps are faith-based but non-denominational.

Spiess said seeing the transformation of kids who attend the camp is heartwarming. “You wouldn’t think a week at camp would make a big difference, but it does. When they come, they’re shy. But by the end, they don’t want to leave.”

He said most of the children live with their biological parents but are in the county social services network. Many are on medications and have emotional problems.

“Doing this has become my passion,” Spiess said. “I work 11 months of the year on this. It’s something I dream about all year.”

Hutton said her work with the camp and her desire to help people save money on formal wear meshed nicely.

The idea for a low-cost formal wear shop came about in 2005 when her soon-to-be daughter in-law took her wedding gown shopping.

“The prices for formal wear seemed really high. I understand (the stores’) costs, but when you just wear it once, it’s a lot of money.”

Hutton began taking in donated gowns, filling her closets and basement. She and her husband eventually renovated their basement for a shop. Hutton gets gowns, mostly new, but a few gently used, from individuals and a couple of formal wear shops in Mankato that donate the previous season’s fashions.

She usually has about 200 prom dresses, 20 wedding gowns and an assortment of other gowns on hand. She is open by appointment only, usually on weekends and evenings.

“I’ve taken appointments at late as 9:30 at night and as early as 7:30 in the morning. People call me Saturday night and need a dress the next day, and I can help them,” Hutton said.