The 6th Annual Love, Hair and Happiness was a beautiful day for everyone involved. The event, organized by Yvonne Reese of Salon Yvonne, brings together community volunteers to pamper and serve the residents at the YWCA Canton’s housing facilities and Refuge of Hope. Our emergency homeless shelter and permanent supportive housing residents and Refuge of Hope clients were treated to a day of pampering– complete with a hot meal and candy bar, fresh hair dos, massages, manicures and a backpack to take home filled with goodies.
We cannot thank every person, business and organization, enough for their time, efforts, donations and services for providing the homeless community with a truly magical day where they could escape their worries. We are amazed at just how much this event has grown, with more than 70 volunteers and more than 75 homeless individuals receiving services we can only stand in awe that there is so much support from our community that has a heart for the YWCA and our homeless community.
Reese said, “I am only one person, but when we come together as a community, we can create a real impact. Love, Hair and Happiness is a way to help make those being served by the YWCA Canton and Refuge of Hope to feel a sense of normalcy, something as little as getting a haircut or a manicure, something that so many of us consider just a normal part of life, can help to make a person feel more like themselves.”
In order to put on the event, Yvonne relies on donations from local businesses and individuals. Bill’s Waco Market, Falcone’s Tavern, Gabe’s Meat and Deli and Vincent’s Pastaria generously donated the hot meals for the guests.
Coon Restoration & Sealants donated an office space to store items ahead of the event where volunteers gathered to pack more than 150 backpacks to be distributed at the event. Many private donors and organizations also made financial donations to help make this event possible.
Reese is passionate about serving the homeless community. Her motto is “look good, feel good! She said, “It is my personal goal that each person served at this event knows there is another person out there that cares about them and wants to take the time to get to know them and help them out in their time of need.”
We are each only one person, but when we come together as a community, we can create a real impact. Love, Hair and Happiness is an opportunity to help make those being served feel a sense of normalcy, something as little as getting a haircut or a manicure, something that so many of us consider just a normal part of life and make them feel more like themselves.