Beaming brightly on Main Street is an establishment filled with warm cheer and a philanthropic philosophy. Shine Salon, where I work, prides itself on giving back to the community here but is reaching beyond Ridgefield this month to help two military families in need.
The Shine staff is collaborating with Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides all the necessary assistance to soldiers whose families have been left behind and to the wounded warriors who have returned from battle. The salon has "adopted" two military families.
"The military does so much for us, we need to give back," said Erica Newkirk, an aesthetician at the salon and the liaison to Operation Homefront.
And that, Newkirk asserted, is just what our colleagues will do. Two beautiful giving trees stand tall in the salon, full of ornaments stating items desired for donation. All donations collected by Dec. 15 will help ensure the two military families have a fulfilling Christmas.
In addition to the giving tree, there is a table full of festive paper, along with markers and decorations which anyone is welcome to use to create cards for deployed soldiers who will be overseas this holiday season. The basket of finished cards is already overflowing with loving and hopeful words.
Also, the proceeds from a handful of the salon offerings, including a peppermint hand massage and a soothing foot soak, both under $10, are being donated to Operation Homefront's cause. Newkirk urged people attending the Holiday Stroll today to stop into Shine, make a card and check out which gifts are still needed under the Christmas trees.
"Pamper yourself while doing a good deed," she said.
