Day of Pampering for Homeless, Plus Sized Women in Detroit

he holiday season is typically a time of happiness mixed with consumerism, but for homeless women and girls, the holidays may bring anxiety and despair during already stressful circumstances.

That’s why Sharon DuMas-Pugh and her nonprofit Full & Fabulous International are offering a day of beauty and pampering to plus sized women in homeless and domestic violence shelters.

Full-figured women, sizes 14 and up, are invited to Don Bosco Hall Community Resource Center at 19321 West Chicago St., Detroit, 48227 on Monday, Dec. 17, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., to receive gently used clean clothes, manicures, facials and chair massages.

DuMas-Pugh founded Full & Fabulous 30 years ago and is also the group’s executive director. “I grew up as a plus sized girl and felt that full figured women were not accepted in every area of life,” she says. “I started to learn things about beauty and self-esteem and was told the best way to share it with other women was to teach it.”

The group’s C.L.F. Project (Cloth me/Love me/Feed me) started in 2009 after Full & Fabulous members lost weight after a weight loss challenge. “We said, 'now what do we do with the clothes?'” she says. “God put it on my heart. Shelters don’t really get full-figured clothes that often, so we decided to pool our clothes together and donate them.”

Hustle lessons, a healthy meal, plus healthy lifestyle, beauty and self-esteem workshops are also planned. “We have Gleaners (Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan) coming out to do a healthy cooking demonstration,” DuMas-Pugh says.

“When I go into schools, I run into ladies who have never had an apple, an orange; so we are going to have snacks for children so they can have nutritional things. We are going to teach ladies how to read food labels and show them that even though you’re low income, you can still eat healthy. It’s just about choices.”

Women who attend with freshly shampooed hair can receive hair styling and cuts for Christmas. DuMas-Pugh says this is important because, “You never know when you may be in the same position, so if you’re in the position to help out, you should give a hand up. There’s nothing political about this. The women don’t have to tell their stories; this is an opportunity for them to feel better. We want you to feel special; we want you to feel like a lady.”

Tax-exempt donations can be dropped off at Don Bosco Hall Community Center, from 11 p.m.-5 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. Items on the wish list for women and girls are clean, gently used coats, dresses, pants, and sweaters sizes 14 and up. Bras, socks and shoes in sizes 8 or larger are requested and food to add to the healthy meal is needed as well.

Call 313-493-9129 for more donation information.