By Maria-Paula

The Rotary Club of Warwick at City Center is giving homeless women the gift of pride and renewal by setting up an 1000 dollar beauty salon at the Four Oaks Day Services Center situated at 7401 Warwick Boulevard. This is focused at helping the homeless transition into employment, stable housing and independence.
The Executive Director of the Four Oaks Day Services Center, Quincy White, recently shared information on the Center’s services, as well as impending job expos and workforce development drives as he presented the Rotary Club of Warwick at City Center.
“To accomplish our goal as a city of making homelessness rare, brief and non-reoccurring, we at Four Oaks rely on community partners like the Rotary Club to assist in meeting the needs of our homeless citizens. The goal of every program at Four Oaks is to build a sense of sustainability and a mind-set of independence. Partners like the Rotary Club of Warwick at City Center help us provide hope to those we serve and empower them to rise above their circumstances,” said White.
Despite being inspired by the transformational work at Four Oaks, Sharon Martin, the sitting Rotary club President learnt that, while Four Oaks includes an on-site barbershop staffed by volunteers, there was no beauty salon for female client’s. A plan to build one was then hatched.
Having held a Cosmetology license for 37 years, Martin understands how nicely styled hair increases a persons pride and confidence, a necessity during job interviews for women served at Four Oaks.
Martin who receives a $1,000 discretionary fund as President of the Rotary Club to assist any local non-profit organization of her choice, therefore chose to help women feel renewed and more confident to make the next step in life by developing a salon and providing other supplies needed for hair cuts and styling.
“We are called to share our resources and, when our financial resources align with our skills and passions, everyone wins,” said Martin.
Four Oaks together with Newport News Youth Build are working on completing the project. The Heart of Giving will also partner by providing equipment and supplies needed for the salon.
Youth Build trains youths aged 16-24 to gain industry-recognized work-based credentials for employment positions and apprenticeships. The participants will receive on-the-job training by renovating a room at Four Oaks and creating the salon.
Managed by the Newport News Department of Human Services, Four Oaks is open between 7 am to 5 pm, Monday through Sunday.
The salon will be operational by the beginning of September 2021 and all homeless people in need of services and support are encouraged to visit for empowerment and renewal.
For more information about the Center, call 757-975-5200.