CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- The usually bustling Mimi Nails Spa on Harbourside Drive in Midlothian was eerily quiet Tuesday.
The closed sign was placed on the front door of Mimi Nguyen’s business after an executive order by the governor forced the salon to close because it is not deemed essential.
“Is it really bad for everyone, not just for us. But, look around and you see so many people out there fighting for their life," Mimi said.
Friend and longtime customer Tracy Fiacco was impressed was how Nguyen stepped in to help local healthcare workers faced with dwindling personal protective equipment (PPE) as they treat COVID-19. That’s why Fiacco met up with Nguyen in her shop on Tuesday morning, packing and stacking boxes of supplies that will be donated to the St. Francis Medical Center in Chesterfield.
“We have got more than 4,000 masks, 15,000 gloves, and more than 1,000 bottles of hand sanitizer, shoe covers and more. This is just our first run,” Fiacco said.
Fiacco said she was not surprised by Nguyen's generosity because she’s committed to helping out in the community.
Fiacco explained that last fall Mimi and her salon workers collected nearly $8,000 that they donated for Breast Cancer awareness.
That’s something that became near and dear to Nguyen’s heart after she lost three salon clients through the years to the disease.
When the owner heard about the need in the medical community, she was eager to jump in to help.
“It’s really important because I know everyone needs it, especially the healthcare workers. They need it more than us,” Nguyen said.
Though the business is losing money by the day, the owner didn’t think twice about donating her inventory. She was happy to make a sacrifice, for the greater good.
“We are all in this together," Fiacco added. "I know it’s hard to feel like we are working together when people have to have social distancing and we want to respect that. But, right now if this is all we can do to help, if it makes a difference, we want to try to help.”
The hope is that other salons will step up and donate protective gear to healthcare workers.
Mimi Nails Spa will host a special donation day on April 11 for anyone who wants to donate masks and other supplies.