Military Spouse Appreciation Month

Hey! It's Military Spouse Appreciation Month this month. (Did you know that?) Check out this story about military members and military spouses getting a night of pampering.

The Tampa Tribune
By LENORA LAKE
Published: May 6, 2013

WESTCHASE - Jennifer Sheppard's husband, a master sergeant in the Air Force, was on his way back from a six-month deployment to Qatar.

So the off of a new hairstyle couldn't have been better, said Sheppard who was among about a dozen military spouses and active duty personnel treated to a night of pampering.

For two hours, hair stylist Simone Williams washed, cut, dried and styled Sheppard's long dark hair at the Hair Cuttery at Westchase Shopping Center. The special evening with food, wine and gift bags was sponsored by the salon with assistance of the American Red Cross Tiffany Circle chapter of Tampa Bay.

"It was just great; I haven't had time to get a haircut but I made time today," said Sheppard who has been married to Chris Sheppard for 13 years and has two daughters, 12 and 7. Chris Sheppard has been in the military for 17 years and was expected back May 1, just two days after the free hair styling.

Bubbles, a companion company of the Hair Cuttery, offered a similar evening in Washington, D.C., and the local salon and the Tiffany Circle chapter heard about it and planned it here.

"It a good thing to give back and these people (military members and families) are helping us out," said Sarah Zielinski, manager of the shop.

The event also served as a kickoff for Military Spouse Appreciation Month, said Jill Valenti, who started the Tiffany Circle chapter where members give at least $10,000 to the American Red Cross each year.