A Wave of Support 

In the wake of last month's Asian Tsunami disaster, individuals and business throughout San Luis Obispo are teaming up to raise money for international relief groups.

Sherry Jiminez of Salon 544 is leading a coalition of west end businesses who will take part in an all-day fund-raising effort on Sunday, Jan. 23. Throughout the day, the salon will donate 100 percent of its proceeds from haircuts and manicures to Save the Children's tsunami relief fund.

Jiminez has also rallied together a number of similarly compassionate businesses in the Creamery and on the west end of downtown, including Spike's Place, Mission Thrift Store, J Henry Manor, Sandy's Deli, Enchante, Spirit of Africa, Anam-Cre Pottery, Red Hot Pottery, and the Art Cafe and Bakery, all of which will be making generous donations to the Save the Children fund. Raffle donations have also been made by Trader Joe's, Studio Fitness for Women, San Luis Motorsports, Blue Note Music, Auto Experts, J Henry Manor, and Salon 544.

Jiminez credits one of her employees, cosmetologist Mindy Langdale, with initiating the fund-raising movement. Langdale volunteered to donate 50 percent of her proceeds for a whole two weeks, from Jan. 11 through Jan. 23. "I didn't have the money to send, so I figured I could just use my hands and services."

A mother of two young girls, Langdale was deeply moved by a news report on TV in which a Swedish mother was forced to chose between two children to save. Both children were later rescued, but as Langdale notes, "There have been so many parents who've lost their children."

Also on Jan. 23, another hair salon farther uptown will be conducting a fund-raiser of its own. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Changes Beauty Salon will offer $40 haircuts for everyone, and donate 100 percent of that money to Oxfam, an international organization committed to creating solutions to famine and poverty.

Changes hairstylist Aura Joy read that Sandra Bullock had donated $1 million to the Red Cross and was inspired to get up and get involved. "Most of us don't have a million dollars to donate," Joy said, "but it's important to try and do something."

"Anybody who wants to donate can," Langdale explained, "even if they don't need a haircut."

For more relief effort, see page 7.

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Staff Writer Jeff Hornaday compiled this week's Strokes & Plugs. E-mail him at [email protected]