Fourteen years ago, Erin Stott was a family member attending VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Our Place Society.
When Stott became a part-time employee of the organization about 10 years ago, she drew upon her own experiences to introduce Beauty Day to Our Place, which offers supports to some of the cityB次元官网网址檚 most vulnerable citizens.
The annual event invites clients of Our Place into the onsite chapel, where a collection of community volunteers provide everything from hairdressing services to manicures, massages and makeovers.
The results have been everything Stott had hoped for.
B次元官网网址淪ome of the transformations are just incredible. You can see the difference itB次元官网网址檚 made on their faces B次元官网网址� before and after,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淭hese are women who will not usually ever have access to this sort of pampering, and it can go a long way to affecting the way they think about themselves and about how they approach the world in general.B次元官网网址�
In addition to the attention to hair, nails and make -up, the event features several racks of fashions available to participants in the event. They were invited to select one item, at no cost, and take it away to help them make life just a little bit easier. Similarly, a display table of fashion jewellery was available for browsing and participants were able to select items to accessorize the outfits they had chosen.
To top things off, through the generosity of local businesses, a selection of snacks ranging from fancy sandwiches to elaborate cupcakes were available and added to the overall spa feel of the event.
ItB次元官网网址檚 only through the participation and generous support of the community that this event is made possible, Stott said. On top of that, the volunteers who provide the services tell her they love Beauty Day as much as the more than 50 women who attend on an annual basis.
B次元官网网址淭he big thing is that, here at Our Place, we get a lot of women who are struggling with day-to-day survival, poverty, abuse and more,B次元官网网址� said Grant McKenzie, Our Place director of communications.
B次元官网网址漌e see everyone come in, from sex workers to senior citizens, and to have a day where we take the time to make them feel special is a very important thing. And even if the effects are only short term, itB次元官网网址檚 an amazing thing to see how it can help them hold their heads a wee bit higher and how it puts the light back in their eyes.B次元官网网址�
The program has been so beneficial, Stott adds, that four years ago she introduced the masculine equivalent to the event: Handsome Day. That event happens in June around FatherB次元官网网址檚 Day and is equally popular with Our Place clientele.
B次元官网网址淲e spend a lot of time concentrating on making certain that people have access to basics like food, shelter and medical care, and thatB次元官网网址檚 certainly important,B次元官网网址� McKenzie said. B次元官网网址淏ut this is one day a year where we make a point of recognizing the importance of other aspects of life.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 these little things that really do add up and can have an important impact on peopleB次元官网网址檚 lives.
