Hair Plus donates to community services

[July 21, 2011]  When patrons of Hair Plus, 327 Fifth St. in Lincoln, attended a garden party at the full-service salon on June 7, they thought it was just for fun. But while playing games and purchasing products with their play money, they were actually helping to make a contribution to organizations that provide services for women. Salon owner Diana Pickett believes in giving back to her customers. She believes in giving to the community. She believes in women.

Weeks before she and her staff hosted the garden party, they found ways to give their customers "play money" in various amounts relative to the number of dollars spent for services. Customers could also earn the fun dollars for making advance appointments and other simple arrangements, which basically gave the stylists liberal means to make sure every customer had plenty to spend on the day of the event.

Due to funds generated at the party, Pickett decided to donate to worthy organizations that offer services and assistance to pregnant girls and women and provide support and safe haven to women in abusive relationships.

On Wednesday, Sojourn House in Springfield and the Pregnancy Resource Center in Lincoln each received a check for $150 from Diana Pickett and the staff at Hair Plus. Carey Gave, Sojourn court advocate, and Lacey Montour, interim assistant director of client services for the Pregnancy Resource Center, accepted the donations for their respective organizations.

Carey Gave provides advocacy services for individuals in Logan County. Her office is on the first floor of the Logan County Courthouse, next door to the treasurer's office, and her office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"We can use this donation for many things because there is so much that is needed when someone is in a bad situation," Gave said. "We can accept donations, fortunately, because we are funded by the state and the federal government, and there just isn't enough from those sources.

"As well as monetary donations, we accept children's and women's clothes and also old cellphones. We can reprogram them to call 911 when any button is pushed. So, if a woman is in trouble, all she has to do is push one button and she can get help."

Other services -- all free -- include assistance with orders of protection; advocacy through the court process; counseling, whether a woman is with or has left an abusive partner; and counseling for children who have witnessed or been in a home with abusive activity.

Lacey Montour said her agency's donation will go to general services. The Pregnancy Resource Center provides free pregnancy tests and offers ongoing workshops and assistance to mothers-to-be and mothers who have children up to age 18 months. With points collected for attending workshops and trainings, mothers can "buy" diapers and other necessary items at the center.

"It makes the staff feel good when individuals or businesses like Hair Plus donate to the agency," Lacey said. "It is a vote of confidence in what we do, to receive this kind of support from the community. We appreciate that people believe in offering assistance to mothers who need a little extra help, which is the mission we try to accomplish. These donations go a long way to help us meet the goals."

[By MARLA BLAIR]