Single mother shows act of kindness after being helped
Ahair trimmer kit as a birthday gift is not only fulfiling a single mother’s family obligations but also helping other families survive this economic uncertainty.
Maryanne Hicks is one of the thousands who lost her job following the COVID-19 restrictions.
But being the breadwinner of the family, it is up to her to look at avenues to fulfil her obligations.
So when she received a hair trimmer kit as a birthday gift last week, she did the current trending thing that Fijians are now up to in this COVID-19 crisis. She announced her hair cutting services on Facebook’s Barter for Better Fiji in exchange for groceries and necessities. “The birthday gift opened a door of opportunity for me to start a business at home to help support my family,” she said. “Cutting hair was always a hobby for me and my parents encouraged me to take it up to earn money. “I wanted to do something to earn money so I can pay bills and groceries and then I came across the Barter for Better Fiji on social media.
“I saw how there were a lot of people who were also in the same situation I was in and decided I could also barter in exchange for groceries.”
Ms Hicks said this week she offered free hair cuts and she has been receiving packets of milk and diapers and other groceries for her family.
But these good deeds by others to her and her family has not been in vain.
In fact, the surplus goods she’s received, she’s paying it forward to members in her community who are also in need.
“This week I have been receiving groceries from my customers. I also read on social media about a mother, Milly Olsson from Velovelo in Lautoka who wanted to trade for diapers and milk.”
She said she took the items with her partner to Ms Olsson in exchange for a plastic pool.
In fact, the surplus goods she’s received, she’s paying it forward to members in her community who are also in need.