A local hair salon is celebrating International Self-Care Day by bringing local businesses together and raising funds for Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital.
More than 20 vendors are at Northern Roots Hair Studio this afternoon, at 249 West St. N., from 12 to 7 p.m., offering a variety of self-care-inspired products and services and raising money for the mental health and addictions outpatient programs at the hospital.
“We tried to pick … things that mean self-care to us, whether it be health, fitness, yummy, good foods, fine-line tattoos, permanent jewelry,” said Montana Hassard, Northern Roots owner and event organizer. “It’s a networking thing, too, to get all local businesses together.”
She said the idea came about due to the need for mental health support in the community.
“I sit on the (Orillia District Chamber of Commerce) as a director, and it was one of the things that kept coming up — that there was a lack of help after someone said, ‘I need help,’” she told OrilliaMatters. “The mental health and addictions outpatient programs, specifically, have a very small budget, and it’s a very large problem in town, so we’re trying to bring awareness.”
As part of the event, self-care T-shirts are being sold on site and at Studio 11, with each purchase raising $25 for the hospital.
T-shirts will continue to be available following the event if all are not sold today.
“The T-shirts are on sale until they’re gone,” Hassard said. “That was my personal contribution to the event today, so if it keeps going, we’ll do it every year and keep generating more funds.”
The first 100 visitors to this afternoon’s event will also receive free gift bags, she said.
“The first 100 people get swag bags because all the hair companies that I work for or educate for have donated hundreds of things just for the cause, which is awesome,” she said.
