NEW PALESTINE – Residents at Woodland Terrace senior living center in New Palestine put on a fashion show for fellow residents earlier this month, showing off stylish pieces they acquired from a Greenfield thrift shop.
The Oct. 12 event was done in partnership with Hancock Hope House, the Greenfield homeless shelter that serves people from Hancock, Henry, Rush and Shelby counties.
One by one, the models made their way through the dining hall in outfits they assembled, each representing a different state.
Resident Jane Hendricks wrote and narrated the script for the show, which took visitors on a virtual road trip across many of the 50 United States.
Pianist Danny Wright provided the background music, playing songs specific to each state being represented.
The first model, Barbara Aadland, who opened the show with a song, sported a fitted ladies jacket and sunhat as she took a virtual trip through California, as Hendricks shared fun facts about the Golden State.
“Do you know why California is called the Golden State?” she quizzed the crowd. “Because of the gold rush of 1849, and also because of the many fields of golden poppies.”
She also shared bits of information about each model’s apparel throughout the show, including how much they paid for it.
Hope House director Karen Newell thanked the group for coming out and supporting the thrift shop, which in turn supports the homeless shelter and the people who find transitional housing there.
“We were super excited that you guys wanted to do this fashion show today, and that we could be a part of it,” she told the crowd.
“We just celebrated our 33rd year of operations, so we’re having a lot of celebrations this week, and we’re happy to be here and partner with you today to see what fashions you have to show us,” she said.
The models did not disappoint, eliciting smiles and cheers as they weaved their way through the tables of guests seated in the dining room.
One gentleman represented “the great state of Texas” by sporting a western-style tie and jacket, a cowboy hat, boots and denim jeans, set off by a shiny belt buckle.
Darlene Kenny represented Maine wearing a beachy sun hat and sunglasses, with a beach-inspired top and bright-orange cropped pants. Betty Bodenhamer represented Mississippi wearing a flowy red top and billowy white pants, while carrying a dainty white lace parasol.
Woodland Terrace’s activity director, Caralee Griffith, was thrilled to see how much the models and guests enjoyed the fashion show, based on the script Hendricks created.
“With it being the first one like this, people weren’t sure what to expect, but after they practiced and saw it all come together, they turned into the superstars I knew they would be,” she said.
Randy Hostettler said she did indeed feel like a superstar as she rolled through the dining hall in her motorized scooter, wearing glittery green and purple to represent Louisiana’s crown jewel, New Orleans, tossing out beads to those in the audience.
“I feel like a celebrity,” she said, smiling behind her masquerade-themed mask.
Griffith expressed thanks to those willing to model as well as to the Hope House team for joining in the fun.
“We were so grateful to work with Kathy and the Hope House team. They are truly a blessing to the community,” she said.
The Hope House Thrift Store is at 35 E. Pierson St. in Greenfield. To learn more, visit hancockhopehouse.org.
