The Formal Closet Momence

06/02/2026

The dresses for the Formal Closet are done! I'll be heading over to the dry cleaners on Friday afternoon to pick them up and bring to the Methodist Church in Momence. If you are available to help bring them into the church, I would greatly appreciate it. Please contact me if you are available to help and I can let you know what time....815-514-4285. (high schoolers, I will give volunteer hours!!)

A SPECIAL thank you to all of those that helped with the dry cleaning bill. It has been covered in full. I appreciate you all so very much, not sure what I would do without this wonderful community and some great friends! I know there will be some very happy "borrowers" in the near future!

With lots of love,

Christy
The Formal Closet in Momence

05/09/2026

Good morning!!! What a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning....love mornings like this (even looking out my office window). It's been another successful year of the The Formal Closet, lots of dresses borrowed, makes my heart smile! I'm going to move to appointment only for the summer, same as last year. It's not as busy at the closet during the summer months and my job is 'crazy pants' during the summer. I'm still here, not going anywhere! If you are looking for an item, please contact me for an appointment. I live close to the Formal Closet and can meet you anytime.

The dresses at the cleaners will be done soon and back at the closet! I'm very excited to get them back and have them available for everyone.

I'm excited about the summer, working with the young candidates for the Momence Gladiolus Festival royalty. Always a great time and one of my favorite times of the year....(I know I have a few of those lol) It is so much fun meeting and working with a new group of young people each year.

The Formal Closet is always accepting donations of formal attire! Men, women, children - dresses, suits, jewelry/accessories, shoes. If interested in donating items, please contact me.

If you have items to return, please contact me. We can work out a time.

Enjoy your summer! If you need me, looking for formal attire....let me know. I'm happy to help! I'll be open with normal hours again late August.

Appreciate you all!

Love,

Christy

05/07/2026

I will be open this evening from 5pm - 6:30pm. If you have an item out, reminder to return. I will be going to appointment only starting next week for the summer months. I want to get as many items back that are out....and there are some!

Thank you,

Christy

Send a message to learn more

05/02/2026

While I have many dresses at the dry cleaners, there are MANY here at the Formal Closet! Here are 3 new ones to the closet today! Stop in, check out the selection of formal attire and wedding dresses

111 W 4th Street, Momence

$30.00 deposit required, will be returned once the item is dry cleaned and returned to the Formal Closet

04/24/2026

Dresses were delivered to the cleaners today!! Omgosh, my truck was full. If, and no pressure on anyone, you would like to contribute to the cause here’s the info. They did let me know if you stop in there to help, mention my name and that you want to contribute to the bill. Dry cleaning ticket in the picture.

Smart wash assured me that the dresses will be completed prior to June 3, but I let them know also I’m at their mercy! I’m in no hurry and am thrilled that they took this on! They are awesome people, hugs to all of them!!!

HUGE job getting all of that to the cleaners today, but I got the job done! Please remember, the Formal Closet is open and functioning (and dry 😊). This community keeps me doing what I’m doing! The love I have for the community and residents keeps me motivated and wanting to do all I can!

Love,

Christy

04/21/2026

The Formal Closet finally caught a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Smartwash Dry Cleaners in Bourbonnais is going to help the Formal Closet with the dresses from last week! The most kind people are giving me almost a 33% discount to help me out! Yep, happy tears! You will see me dancing in my truck driving to Bourbonnais tomorrow!!! Those 60 dresses are going to be cleaned...I'm almost ready to do cartwheels! (at least the thought is there lol) It's still an expensive process, but I feel like with the donations to overcome the disaster from last week this is heading in the right direction! There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

There have been many that have offered help in town and (and out of town) with this enormous adventure, and with your help and Smartwash Dry Cleaners, we got this! I cannot even begin to thank you, but I know in my heart the borrowers will be so excited to get one of these items.

The Formal Closet is still moving and grooving!

Lots of hugs to so many, I cannot even count! It takes a village and I LOVE this village!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christy

04/18/2026

Update!!! After another night of crazy rain, Tim and I were a nervous wreck to go to the Formal Closet this morning. BUT, we walked into dry floors!!!! HALLELUJAH!!! Tim mopped the floors while Amber Lupe helped me go through each item, thank you Amber! I greatly appreciated your help today!! ❤️ Tomorrow we get the rug cleaned then it’s the dry cleaners 😢 unfortunately, there are 60 dresses heading to the cleaners, yikes! As much as I don’t want to ask for help, I’m going to need some with this adventure. I’m going to reach out to Smartwash dry cleaners on Monday, hoping they will give me a little break.

You know the saying, God only gives you as much as you can handle? Well, my bucket is literally overflowing….enough already?

Christy

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04/17/2026

Update!!! After another night of crazy rain, Tim and I were a nervous wreck to go to the Closet this morning. BUT, we walked into dry floors!!!! HALLELUJAH!!! Tim mopped the floors while Amber Lupe helped me go through each item, thank you Amber! I greatly appreciate your help today!! ❤️ Tomorrow we get the rug cleaned then it’s the dry cleaners 😢 unfortunately, there are 60 dresses heading to the cleaners, yikes! As much as I don’t want to ask for help, I’m going to need some with this adventure. I’m going to reach out to Smartwash dry cleaners on Monday, hoping they will give me a little break.

You know the saying God only gives you as much as you can handle? Well, my bucket is literally overflowing….enough already?

Christy

The Formal Closet suffered a blow this week due to weather. I will overcome, just like I always do. The damage could have been so much worse that what it was. I have quite a few dresses that need to be cleaned due to being wet for a few days (I wasn't aware of the issue until I arrived at the closet last evening). I have had so many reach out, offering help. If anyone would like to help tomorrow, i will be there at 10am. I need to go through each item to make sure there are no more that have been damaged/wet. i could use some help as there are many dresses. I know not all of them are wet, and I do believe my husband and I were able to get the wet dresses out last night. Anyone who knows me, i want to make sure that all of the dresses/items are in top condition.

I have also had several that offered financial help, but I'm afraid to accept due to certain people in the area thinking that I use the funds for other things. Yep, you know who you are and I'm being the bigger person and not mentioning any names. Again, no money is made with the Formal Closet. I will get this figured out, and I appreciate all of your offers of help. I'm going to self protect, and prove to those that are very accusatory that I'm on my own with this endeavor. The Formal Closet is still operating, and I will overcome this hurdle like I have all of the others along with providing formal attire for anyone who may need it!

Please pray for a little less rain tonight!

(my beautiful rug, dresses and 50+ ties hanging on my clothsline today) the dry cleaner will hate me next week!

Christy

04/16/2026

04/16/2026

The CLOSET took a hit from the weather, I’ve got a mess and some tears. I walked into a flooded closet. I’m staying positive, I’ll get through this. Wet dresses, wet furniture, wet rugs….needless to say I’m not open tonight.