[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 27, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO HEIDI MATTHEWS-CANTIN AND JOHN CANTIN

 Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Heidi 
Matthews-Cantin and John Cantin of Manchester as April's Granite 
Staters of the Month. Heidi and John comanage Missy's Closet, a resale 
boutique that is holding its fourth annual ``Say Yes to the Prom 
Dress'' event this month. This initiative allows young women who 
otherwise would not be able to afford a prom dress the opportunity to 
pick one out for free.
  John lost his daughter, Melissa ``Missy'' Charbonneau, to a domestic 
violence incident in 2009, and Missy's Closet was started in her 
memory. The resale boutique runs on donations and volunteers and aims 
to serve survivors of domestic violence and those struggling with 
mental illness or substance misuse.
  The mission of ``Say Yes to the Prom Dress'' is to make sure that 
every young woman, no matter her economic circumstance, has the 
opportunity to feel special and confident in her gown on prom night. 
Missy's Closet offers a wide range of colors and sizes that young women 
can choose from. This year, the boutique started off prom dress season 
with more than 1,000 donated gowns, many of them new.
  In addition, each young woman is assisted by a ``fashion 
ambassador,'' a volunteer who is trained to give clients words of 
encouragement and help them feel confident in their dresses. Free 
makeup and jewelry is also available to complete their looks.
  Heidi and John's work with Missy's Closet's ``Say Yes to the Prom 
Dress'' campaign is not just about the dress; it is about providing 
young women a way to feel confident on their special night. 
Furthermore, it is not only the young women who walk away happy; the 
volunteers at Missy's Closet take immense pride in their work and 
recognize the importance of making a positive change in their 
community. As Heidi herself says, kindness has a trickledown effect, 
and all you need to do is help one person a day
  John and Heidi embody the New Hampshire spirit of generosity and 
kindness by working to ensure that everyone--regardless of financial 
circumstance--has the opportunity to thrive.

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