Clayton News Daily

Abused victims of family violence, and children waiting for a place to call home, will be the recipients of a coat-and-blanket drive today, in Morrow.

The Beauty Bar, a hair studio and makeup lounge, will conduct the drive today ( Friday, Feb. 11), from 11 a.m., to 5 p.m., at 1500 Mount Zion Road, Suite 204, said Nikki Singletary, co-owner of The Beauty Bar.

The salon is collecting new, or lightly used, coats and blankets, she added.

GlenNeta Griffin, a spokesperson for The Beauty Bar, said the coats and blankets will be donated to Securus House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, and the Rainbow House, Inc., a shelter for children referred entities aligned with the Department of Family and Children's Services.

"It is our nature to help others, and we have always given back to our community, in one way or another," added Singletary. "We realized that there is a need in our own neighborhood for warm coats and blankets. We would like for everyone to stay warm during these remaining winter months."

Singletary said she sees the coat drive as an innovative way to give back to the community. She urges individuals with coats and blankets that are not in use, to come the salon and "donate to someone," she said.

Singletary said those, who comply, will receive "Beauty Bucks," which are similar to coupons, and worth $5, for the individual's next salon visit.

She added that the salon's goal is to collect a total of 50 coats and blankets. She said she has taken action on her own, and advertised the coat drive to her neighbors and customers, who started making donations about three weeks ago, prior to the big event today.

The salon is already halfway to its goal, she said, with approximately 25 coats and blankets that have been donated.

She said she has three bags full of coats and blankets at her home, and about a dozen donated items at the salon.