Salon Helps Feed Hungry Kids

COOKEVILLE, TN – With the help of their community and a lotion company representative, the staff at Millennium Tan recently raised $300 for a local charity.

The West Putnam Food Ministry’s Backpack Program provides nutritious, easy-to-prepare food to needy children in the Putnam County school district. The food is distributed to children every Friday so that they may have meals over the course of the weekend, reducing hunger and promoting high performance in school on Monday mornings. “We regularly donate to this charity through our church,” said Patsy Allison, Millennium Tan owner, “but this year I wanted to get the salon involved. The cost is about $1.75 per child and the organization provides food for 150 children each week, so that adds up rather quickly.”

Patsy’s decision to involve Millennium Tan with the Backpack Program food drive was one of ideal timing. “We had David McFarland of Performance Brands coming for training that day,” she explained. “Our clients love him, and he’s like the Energizer Bunny when he’s behind the counter!” On that day, Patsy gave 20 percent of all lotion and membership sales to the Backpack Program. “I feel very blessed that everything turned out as well as it did,” Patsy added. “We’re very thankful for David’s help, as well as the support from our community.”

Patsy plans to hold another fundraiser for the West Putnam Food Ministry’s Backpack Program in the Spring. She anticipates raising more money, she says, because more people are coming through her salon’s doors during that time of the year. “Our community is very supportive of this charity,” she added, “so I’m excited about doing it again. The Backpack Program is near and dear to my heart and I love helping out whenever I can.”

Patsy opened Millennium Tan in March 2003 in Cookeville, TN. Since then, the salon has grown into a 36-unit location that offers five levels of tanning as well as hydro-massage, red-light therapy, sunless tanning and teeth-whitening. She is currently planning to renovate the salon’s décor and equipment, and considering the possibility of opening a second location.