A fashion show to benefit a group that takes on the work of helping foster children and leading women’s prison ministries will be held Sunday at the Brentwood house in McComb.
Fern Crossley is bringing “Fashion Rocks” to Brentwood, 601 Delaware Ave., McComb, at 3 p.m.
Performers include the gospel-blues band Ablazing Grace, with Rick Boone on guitar, Steve Cox on guitar and lead vocals and John Clark on harmonica, and singer-songwriter Hillary.
Beverly Welch, owner of Twice Is Nice in McComb will outfit a dozen models in career wear from her consignment shop, complete with accessories.
Tickets are $15 and are available at Twice Is Nice and Selman’s Jewelers in McComb or by contacting Crossley at 810-4072.
Crossley said the fashion show will help the Healing Hearts Foundation raise money for its transitional programs for a women’s prison ministry.
The foundation formed years ago out of an eight-week discipleship program at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church under the direction of Charlene Brown.
The foundation saw the need to help children in foster homes and went to work.
“But, as we progressed we saw the need for healing the whole family,” Crossley said.
And that work, she said, led the group to reach out to mothers in the Pike County jail.
“Through our ministries in the jail system we saw the recidivism of prisoners, and that’s when we started Reboot 101, a lifeskills program to help prisoners re-enter civilian life and have a better chance at employment,” she said.
The group works with Pike County Sheriff’s Department and drug court officials. Crossley said the focus has been on helping the women become more employable, but she said there are many obstacles for ex-felons who want to work.
Her response to that problem: “We help them become self-employed,” she said.
“Because they were having so much trouble getting employment and paying their fines, we saw that they needed their own business,” Crossley said. “That business is going to be an online store that sells shoes and bags.”
She said the fashion show is the first fundraiser for the new initiative.
Welch said Crossley has been talking to her about a fashion show for a long time.
“Miss Fern has been after me for a while to do this show,” Welch said. “I used to do them all the time for the Hollywood Shop and Vest’s.”
Welch, who is always dressed in trendy fabrics and jewelry, said today’s fashion is about two things.
“Today’s styles are all about comfort and looking good,” she said. “We will present a very contemporary style. All ensembles will be black and white with pops of color.”
She said the models will be of all ages.
“We have clothes and accessories for the entire family,” Welch said.
The store carries a large assortment of casual, dress and formal apparel in boutique and name brands, designer handbags, a selection of shoes and other accessories such as ladies hats, scarves, belts and jewelry.
Welch said everything on the models will be from the store and available for sale.
“This is a great way to look fashionable and smart and not break the bank,” she said.
