By Heidi Roman
C & G Staff Writer

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Inspired by a country music video that highlighted the automotive industry crisis, a local salon owner is raising money to help supply food and personal items to people in need in Macomb County.

Cheryl Pniewski, owner of Angela Marc Salon on Heydenreich in Clinton Township, was moved to action after watching “Shuttin’ Detroit Down,” a video for the John Rich song of the same title. The story of a local man losing his job in the auto industry struck her.

“It just broke my heart,” Pniewski said. “I really saw the need right in this area. I have clients of 30 years being asked to retire.”

Her clients who used to be able to afford a haircut or color treatment every four weeks have started stretching the time in between services to eight weeks.

“Things have changed,” Pniewski said.

Pniewski is a Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor and has used her business smarts to raise money for Locks of Love, Wigs4Kids and Susan G. Komen for the Cure in the past. Now she’s tackling hunger.

On Feb. 27, she held a Totally ‘80s Dance Party benefit at the Vintage House in Fraser to support Feed the Children’s Americans Feeding Americans caravan. Her goal is to raise more than $7,000 by March 15 to help sponsor the charity’s efforts to feed and support people in need across the United States. She’s still collecting monetary donations.

“It goes right to Macomb County,” Pniewski said. “Everything I’ve done is coming right back here.”

One truck can feed up to 100 families of four.

Americans Feeding Americans is a campaign started by Feed the Children to help residents living in areas that have been struck by the economy.

“We have 55 trucks that crisscross the country on a regular basis, so we do this all the time,” said Tony Sellars, director of communications for Feed the Children.

Groups or individuals can sponsor a truck of food and personal supplies for $7,200.

“A semi-truck comes in and each truck holds 400 boxes of food and 400 boxes of personal hygiene supplies,” Sellars said. “Avon has partnered with us and provides boxes of their products, as well.”

The items are distributed locally through food pantries, soup kitchens, churches and agencies that have a better idea of who in the community needs them the most. Individuals are given vouchers to get the food and items.

Feed the Children is headquartered in Oklahoma City and has distribution centers across the country. Sellars said the demand for food assistance from the organization has increased by 30-40 percent over the last 18 months, depending on the region. The recession has taken a toll everywhere, he said.

“A lot of times, it’s people who have never had to ask for help before,” Sellars said. “The biggest hurdle is telling them it’s OK to ask for help. They’re frustrated or maybe a little too proud, but this is temporary and it’s nothing they did wrong.”

Anyone interested in sponsoring a truck for Feed the Children can call the organization’s Special Projects Department at (800) 627-4556.

Pniewski said she’s going to plan another fundraiser for Feed the Children next year.

“We’ll be doing the same thing because I really don’t think the economy will be any better,” she said.

To donate to the cause, send checks payable to Feed the Children to P.O. Box 36, Okalahoma City, OK 73101-0036, attention Glenna Smith, Special Projects. Checks must have the project code 9SEJ00027 written in the memo line of the check to count toward Angela Marc Salon’s fundraiser.

For more information visit www.angelamarcsalon.com or www.feedthechildren.org.

You can reach Staff Writer Heidi Roman at hroman@candgnews.com or at (586) 218-5006.