COVID Can’t Deter Local Salon Owner
Who Knows the Beauty of Volunteering
8 JUNE 2020 | TheJournalNJ.com
BY JOANNE COLELLA
Michele Lawson has never been the kind of person to allow
her hands to remain idle. Usually, her hands are busy providing
hairstyling services to the many loyal customers from
throughout the area at her busy Red Bank salon, Hair & Company.
When she’s not serving those clients, she’s personally providing free
-
dation. And when she’s not doing that, she and her dedicated staff are
hosting private appointments on their days off for the homeless families
and individuals with special needs who are served by HABcore.
And then the coronavirus hit.
clients and taking extra sanitizing measures as business dwindled.
But when New Jersey ultimately shut down, Lawson was forced to
close the salon, too. And because of the precautions against COVID,
she also could not offer the hands-on assistance that she’s been giving
to cancer survivors and the homeless.
In a message to her customers on March 19, she sadly said,
“Well, I never thought I’d see the day that I was locking this door, not
knowing when we would be open again. I’ve worked here since I was
22 years old in 1989, and I bought it only four years ago. I have never
been out of work or not known where my next paycheck was coming
from. These are scary times, for sure. I just want to thank our staff and
our clients for hanging tough these last few weeks, and thank you all
for the countless phone calls, well wishes and acts of kindness. I pray
we are back where we belong before you know it! I hope you all stay
safe and healthy.”
True to her word, it wasn’t long before Lawson found a way to help. On
April 28 – just two days before the passing of her beloved uncle, the mayor
of Union Beach who shepherded that community through Superstorm Sandy
– she sent out an online message to everyone she knew, announcing a
collection she was organizing to assist Lunch Break, which provides meals,
groceries, pantry supplies, clothing and other services for those in need all
year long.
Donations could be dropped off at the salon or Lawson offered to pick
them up. The most-requested items included gloves, masks, canned tuna,
rice, beans, oatmeal, canned vegetables, packaged bread, toiletries, baby
items such as diapers, wipes, and baby food, and feminine hygiene products.
Monetary donations would go a long way, too, with $25 providing six
hot meals, $40 providing 10 hot meals, or $50 buying a bag full of groceries.
The community responded immediately to enthusiastically lend sup-
up, giving a special shout-out to one of them.
“Taylor Cirigliano is a local high school senior who generously was the
of her to think of others at this time, when her senior year and senior prom,
etc. were so affected by the COVID-19 virus.”
Within two weeks, Lawson and her staff collected more than 60 bags of
groceries and about $300 in monetary donations. They loaded up their cars
and delivered the precious cargo to the grateful folks at Lunch Break.
Lawson has also sent out messages to those she assists with her Wig
Warriors services for cancer survivors, urging them to email, call or message
if they need her help.
“I am still available for phone consults and will do whatever I can do
to help, despite all of the obvious restrictions,” she said. “We can still do a
consultation via phone or video messenger, and I am working on a sponsorship
program for those who are in need of a wig but cannot afford one at this
time.”
Monetary donations to Wig Warriors can be made through PayPal and
Venmo, and wig donations are also needed. All funds go to help purchase
wigs, head coverings and accessories needed to help cancer patients deal
with the awful cosmetic side effects of cancer treatment. They receive a personal
consultation to better prepare them for their pending hair loss, and
coloring, washing, or styling wigs for them. Lawson also helps patients deal
with their hair as it grows back in. All of these services are offered completely
free of charge and are given in a private and welcoming atmosphere by
someone who is not only a skilled stylist, but also has personal experience
in caring for those with cancer.
As of mid-May, Lawson and her employees have been offering hair coloring
kits for their existing clients, mixed with their personal color, and available
for curbside pickup with a video to guide them through how to apply it
Course, which is a program designed for anyone in the professional beauty
industry who believes that infection control is one of the most important
steps in a salon, spa or barbershop. By completing this course and becoming
the importance of delivering safe service in a healthy environment.
To contact Lawson at Hair & Company, call 732-747-6983 or email
hairandcompanyrb@gmail.com. To contact her about Wig Warriors, call 732-
747-6983 or 732-673-7097. To contact Lunch Break, call 732-385-3971 or
email info@lunchbreak.org.
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