When I think about a canned food drive, I usually think about the competition between classes in elementary school where the class with the most cans won a pizza party.
When I heard about the canned food drive at the cosmetology department at City College, however, there was no competition or pizza party involved.
From Sept. 29–Oct. 6, the City College cosmetology department held its semi-annual canned food drive, with all proceeds going to the Sacramento Food Bank. With this drive, a can got you a free haircut or manicure.
As a person who has no problem blowing $35 on a haircut, I must say that hearing “free haircut or manicure” and “canned food drive” reeled me in for a couple of reasons.
First, I heard from a friend that the cosmetology department charges $2 for a manicure and that I should try it out. Secondly, I had some cans that I wanted to get rid of.
I immediately made an appointment for a back-to-back haircut and manicure.
After checking in with the receptionist and handing over my can of Progresso’s clam chowder, I walked into the salon and met with the two cosmetology students, Kelsey Escolar and Dominique Temple, who were going to cut my hair.
As I looked around the salon, I saw swarming students and clients, as well as mannequins, as Dorothy Moore’s “Misty Blue” played over the radio.
“It’s good for business because you get a good haircut and the student learns,” Escolar said.
Escolar explained that when the cosmetology department has these types of deals, clients come in droves, and, she added, it continues to be a big success.
“We were swamped during the last drive,” Escolar said. “We were giving free haircuts. It was great because no one really knows about the program.”
Cosmetology Chair Marcia Bonawitz said that the semi-annual canned food drive is also a win-win situation for all those involved.
“It benefits the student because they get to practice,” Bonawitz said. “It benefits the community because of the food donated to the community and the client because they get to save money. It’s also a relaxing and enjoyable service.”

After an hour, my hair felt lighter, and I would agree that this is probably the best canned food drive tactic because if this were elementary school, all the participants would have invited to the pizza party at the end of the drive.