Nita Sexton gave more than her time Sunday toward the fight against HIV.
She also gave money. In exchange, she got her hair cut.
Sexton, 29, who was volunteering at Chattanooga CARES 14th annual Cut Up for Life, has a wedding to attend in a few days.
“I thought, ‘Instead of giving my money to a salon, why not support one of the causes that’s dear to my heart?'” she said.
A steady flow of customers at the Chattanooga Market on Sunday paid for haircuts, back massages and manicures to benefit Chattanooga CARES, an HIV/AIDS support and education organization.
“We survive on donations,” said Assistant Director Jerry Evans. “[Patients] don’t have to have any income or have any money and we’ll still take care of them.”
Evans said the event typically brings in about $5,000, and he’s hoping for the same this year.
He said Chattanooga CARES receives federal and state grants, but sometimes those aren’t enough. Medication for some of its 750 clients can cost as much as $1,200 a month.
But because of medication and the other services Chattanooga CARES provides, HIV is not as deadly as it once was, Evans said.
“When [Chattanooga CARES] opened up in 1986, HIV was still a death sentence,” he said. “So now it’s at least manageable; instead of terminal, it’s at least chronic.”
Evans said 56,000 new HIV cases are reported annually in the United States, and a few more than 100 come from the Tennessee Valley.
Justin Bolinger was among the hairstylists and other vendors who donated their time Sunday to Cut Up for Life.
“It’s such a worthy cause,” he said, “and there’s so much that all of us need to do to help people with HIV/AIDS.”
The Chattanooga Market donated the space.
“It’s a great marriage,” said market general manager Paul Smith.
“It’s kind of nice to have a 14th annual event in our market. Chattanooga CARES just really does it right.”
HOW TO HELP
Donations to Chattanooga CARES can be made at chattanoogacares.org or by calling 265-2273.