What began six years ago to help the unsheltered in Lakeside with a small table of pastries and about 10 haircuts, has now turned into a full-scale day of help for the homeless, with a lot of help from Lakeside’s Reflections Salon & Day Spa, and a host of volunteers. Owner Ginger Rich said this year, the annual Haircuts for the Homeless event provided 40 people with haircuts, a shampoo, a full meal, and a host of 30 volunteers that made it happen, including providing needed services for the unsheltered. Rich said haircuts were provided by around 10 women who work in the salon, along with a few additional volunteers helping with the shampoos and haircuts.
“We want to serve our community and show the less fortunate more love,” said Rich. “We want to make people feel like they matter. Many people do not have the means that some of us have. It is my way, and our way as a salon, to share what we have to give.”
Rich said along with the haircuts, there were people there to pray for those who showed up, as many of them have a variety of backgrounds from addiction, alcoholism, to mental illness. She said through the years, she has gathered supporters and services to participate in this day of giving.
“We get to listen to them tell us their stories,” she said. “We like to feed them, and we have many resources that show up. East County Transitional Living Center, the county of San Diego, Mental Health Services, Vista Hills for Women, Crossroads for Women, Leo’s Lakeside Pharmacy passes out vitamins, Hope for the Homeless pass out toiletries. I like to go out and talk to them and listen to their stories, see them smile and laugh. We pass out underwear and socks, new and used clothes, sleeping bags, tents. The whole back of my salon was filled almost to the ceiling with donations.”
Rich said it catered a full Mexican cuisine with machaca burritos, enchiladas, rice and beans, a couple types of chicken chiles, and that they set up table in front of the salon so that the homeless can sit down and enjoy a delicious meal.
“It is just a way to show our community of the less fortunate that we care and that they matter. And, that their past does not define them. By chance, if they want to get off the streets or get help for their mental illness, we have a resource here ready to help them,” she said.
Reflections Salon & Day Spa is located at 9909 Maine Avenue, Lakeside. For more information visit www.reflectionssalonlakeside.com
