NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — One local salon owner is reaching out for the community’s support after a Tuesday afternoon fire at the Mira Mar apartment complex in Norfolk injured two people and left many without a home.
Salt Whitfield is hosting a donation drive for displaced residents, at least 32 in number, according to Norfolk Fire-Rescue.
“You have to do something,” Whitfield said. “You can’t just stand by and watch all these people struggle. The people that I see on a daily basis going back and forth to the bus stop to work, they’re struggling to make ends meet now. So something like this, this is taking over their whole world. You wake up to absolutely nothing, no toothbrush, no toothpaste, you know, the essentials that you need every day.”
Whitfield said this is her community, so when she found out the fire was happening next door, she asked herself, ‘What can I do to help?’
“This happened overnight,” Whitfield said. “The apartments was burning down. And I know these people are a part of my community. They come, they get their hair done, so I service them. The least I can do is give back. So last night I made a post on Facebook and it has like over 500 shares just on Facebook alone.”
To help 32 people who lost everything, you can donate toiletries, clothes, food and shoes. Whitfield said she’s helping to bring the community together because she’s been here before.
“I know what it is to not have, and I know what it feels like, especially with a fire, because I had a fire happen to me last year,” Whitfield said. “My house burnt down, but I was fortunate to have insurance. It’s a lot of people that are not fortunate to have insurance, have money saved just in case for a rainy day,” said Whitfield.
Whitfield is collecting donations at her salon House of Hair Norfolk, 7107 Sewells Point Road.