Elle Marie Hair Studio is teaming up with the MAC Foundation (Make a Change) this holiday season to raise funds for the Everett-based Hand in Hand organization. Now through the end of the month, guests are encouraged to make a donation at checkout or simply round up their payment to make a contribution. Elle Marie, in turn, will match those donations. With the support of their guests this Christmas season, Elle Marie will help provide children faced with trying circumstances good meals, clothing, toys, assistance with their Christmas party, and most importantly, love.
On any given day there are more than 10,000 children within the Washington foster care system. Usually, these children are forcibly removed from their homes, given a black garbage bag to hold their belongings, and are often separated from siblings. Many times, they are scared, hungry, and unclean. Imagine if there was a place where these kids could be properly cared for. A place that provided the needed time to find the right foster home the first time, so that children did not have to move from family to family. Hand in Hand provides just such a place – they call it Safe Place. At their facility in Everett, they are able to provide children with a place where they can transition after being removed from their homes. Children are given access to warm meals, showers and a place to rest and relax while case workers find the right foster home for that child.
| HandInHand MAC from Michael Mallahan on Vimeo. |
“Supporting these children will be both a moving and rewarding experience for our employees and guests and Elle Marie is thrilled to assist the MAC Foundation in making this Christmas special for so many children from our community that are entering the foster care system through their doors,” says Elle Marie Owner Colleen Buck. “Hand In Hand’s ultimate goal is to break the cycles in which foster placement is necessary. The community outreach that Hand In Hand provides is awe-inspiring and extends far beyond Safe Place to providing family services and support, after school programs, meals, clothing and a multitude of other resources that truly make a change.”
Marysville resident, Chris Mallahan, is the driving force behind the MAC Foundation. “Our organization was founded in memory of my father, a World War II vet who always gave to those in need. We are small but we work hard,” says Mallahan.
For more information about Hand in Hand/Safe Place, visit http://www.handinhandkids.org.
About MAC Foundation
The Make A Change Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit that is run entirely by volunteers to ensure more money goes to the people that need it and not to the salaries of employees. MAC Foundation was formed in 2012 after several years of localized collection for Toys For Tots of King and Snohomish Counties. It was clear that year after year the motivation and giving spirit amongst our donors to make a change was growing by leaps and bounds. The Make A Change foundation, or “MAC Foundation” as we call it was born out of a desire to recognize our donors and be able to provide more for the charities that we carefully select while in part honoring Francis “Brownie” Brown, our Vice-President’s late father. Brownie was a World War II Veteran who loved his country, loved kids and saved his pennies year round for Children’s Orthopedic Hospital. Today his memory lives on in the smiles of children who gain independence and moments of love and happiness in a sometimes unforgiving world. We are here to make a change and we’d love for you to join in with us.
Additional information can be found at http://www.macfoundationnw.org.