By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
A special mother daughter-duo from Metamora wants their customers to feel good on the outside and even better on the inside.
To accomplish this, Studio One Hair Designs owners and stylists Rene and her daughter Kelsey Gertz decided to donate 10 percent of their total sales from October 15 until November 28 to Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC) of northern Oakland County.
The idea fruited in a series of sermons the mother-daughter pair had observed at their new church, the Davison Free Methodist Church, with one in particular that Rene could not get out of her mind.
‘The week I became inspired talked about generosity over greed,? she said. ‘And that light bulb just went off. Here I am already worried about the holidays, and what I can do for my three kids and three grand kids, and I thought, I should really help out other families.?
The pair began researching different community outreach organizations, and jumped at the non-profit organization Love INC located at 312 S. Broadway in downtown Lake Orion.
Rene, who has in the past always selected a family to help out during the holidays, became inspired by how Love INC can help so many different local families all under one roof.
With 25 partner churches, Love INC serves as the connecting point for families in need to the available services around them. Whether it’s clothing, meals, household or personal products, Love INC clients call the clearinghouse and are assisted by volunteers who connect them with the necessary resources.
The majority of the volunteers represent churches from both Lake Orion and Oxford.
‘Her [Rene’s] desire to share her blessings is encouraging and motivating,? Love INC Executive Director Deborah Nelson said. ‘Rene is an example of the generosity of business owners in our communities and we are grateful she chose to share those blessings with us here.?
Love INC of northern Oakland County services families within the borders of Lapeer County, M-15, Dequindre and I-75/M-59, in Oakland County and is always looking for volunteers and/or donations.
Interested participants can contact Love INC at (248)693-4357 or email info@loveincofnoc.org.
Plus, Rene’s timing is immaculate.
Love INC recently underwent a move, and the fundraiser that helped them with the move’the Double Your Dollars $20,000 challenge’ended October 15. Numbers are not yet final, Nelson said, but she anticipates the goal was met.
‘The generosity of the community has exceeded all of our expectations,? she said.
So, Rene and Kelsey invite the community to keep it coming, and try their salon in Metamora, located at 4053 S. Lapeer Rd. suite F, to look good and feel even better.
And, let them know you are excited, because they are too.
‘We feel really good about it. We’ve been through some personal heartache of our own, and this church, they really helped us in many ways and made us feel like they’re our rock and someone we can count on, so it’s our turn to pay it forward.?