NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Dozens of recovering drug addicts and homeless women received a free makeover on Wednesday courtesy of a Nashville non-profit organization and college.
The makeovers were provided by Remington College and Mending Hearts.
Mending Hearts is a local non-profit organization that began in 2004 and helps women who are or are at risk of becoming homeless as a result of drug or alcohol addiction.
Vicki Neal is the organization's program director. She explained that many of the women that seek help through the organization are newly out of jail.
"Most women are coming out of jail or out of prison, or some of them are homeless but need a safe place to live while they are changing their lives," she explained.
Shani Glasco is a recovering addict that is currently living at the transitional facility.
"I lost everything due to manufacturing methamphetamines and I went to jail for it," she told Nashville's News 2.
Glasco was just one of dozens of women that participated in the free makeovers provided by Remington College.
Larry Collins of the college told Nashville's News 2 each of the women received a haircut and style, as well as a manicure.
"For ladies, a [haircut] is probably $30, the style is an additional $10 or $20 and the manicure is probably $30, so $100 bucks or so, they're getting that for free," he said.
According to Neal, a makeover can go a long way toward restoring a woman's confidence when trying to pick up the pieces and start over.
"A lot of them are just beginning to do a job search, so we thought it would be a good thing for them to get presentable before they go and look for a job," she explained.
Since Mending Hearts opened nearly seven years ago, more than 900 women have obtained employment and stable housing with a 73% success rate in completing the program and remaining drug free.
For more information on Mending Hearts, visit their Web site.
