By KATHIE HUNT
White Elegance is giving some women in Mexico the opportunity to attend the temple.
White Elegance makes white dresses, primarily for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Second hand dresses and dresses not sold are boxed and sent to bishops in Mexico for members who cannot afford their own clothing.
“The response of the people in Mexico has been extraordinary,” said Anna Barbieri, marketing and sales manager and a founder of White Elegance. “Members just stand and stare at the dresses. They pick up the dresses and just hold them, not even caring if the dresses are the right size.”
Barbieri and Tamera Perkins, production manager and the other founder of White Elegance, heard of sisters in Mexico who were not attending the temple because they could not afford temple clothing, Barbieri said.
“The church welcomes any efforts on the part of faithful Latter-day Saints to help their brothers and sisters go to the temple and enjoy the blessings offered there,” said Dan Rascon, church public affairs.
Church members have learned of the work White Elegance is doing and donations of old dresses have poured in. Wards all over the country are doing collections. White Elegance has received donations from a ward in Allen, Texas, as well as a big shipment from Denver, Colo.
“People here have been terrific; it’s wonderful to give the people a dress to treasure as I have treasured mine,” Barbieri said of the donations White Elegance has received.
BYU junior Brad Griggs from Biloxi, Miss., majoring in construction management, served in the Mexico Torreon Mission.
“There was a lot of sacrifice. They will definitely use (the clothing),” Griggs said.
Barbieri is trying to arrange for dresses to be sent to Romania. Members in Romania travel to Sweden, Switzerland and Germany to attend a temple.
“We are trying to focus on Third World countries,” Barbieri said.
White Elegance also sends one dress from each size, a total of nine dresses, to temple presidents of the new smaller temples when the temples are completed.
Donations can be left at the White Elegance Orem or Salt Lake City stores.
