Harrington salon collects toiletries as a lasting tribute to Anne Paladino

August 14, 2019

The legend – and mission – of Anne Paladino lives on as her community continues to support her legacy, the Lake Forest Church Association Inc., known as the Harrington Food Pantry.

The food pantry is one of the Food Bank of Delaware’s 506 Hunger Relief Partners who receive 916,000 visits each year.

Through the month of August, The Chair Salon and Spa on Commerce Street in downtown Harrington, is holding a public collection of toiletries to donate to the food pantry in Anne’s memory. Why toiletries?

“Many of the clients we serve are on food stamps, and they can’t buy toothpaste, toilet paper or laundry detergent with food stamps. Those items become very valuable,” said Carol Kalinofski, Miss Anne’s (as she was known) successor at the local food pantry.

Tami Klotz, Chair salon owner, was Miss Anne’s hair stylist for many years, even going to her home to cut hair when Miss Anne was ill. Klotz, along with salon manager Bri Bowers, was constantly inspired by Miss Anne’s “community involvement, her zest for life and her heart for others.” When they learned about the food pantry’s ongoing need for personal hygiene products, they opened their hearts and their salon’s door.

They set up boxes in the waiting area and a list of most wanted items: bar soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoo and conditioner, laundry detergent, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, and wipes.

Kalinofski said the clients served by the pantry will welcome the donations. “We can’t purchase personal care items with money we get for food,” she explained.  Some of the member churches in the association have agreed to sponsor a specific item for the pantry. For example, one church collects toilet paper each month, while another collects toothbrushes.

This pantry averages about 300 families each month. In July, it served 216 families – 193 children and 216 adults. That’s down from January, when it served 340 families.

“That’s what we like. There are jobs available, and we don’t want to be needed,” Kalinofski said. “But we have people who have been with us many years.”

The Chair is accepting donations during business hours through Aug. 31. Hours are posted on the salon’s Facebook page.