On August 20, 2011, Coconut Tan and Spa will be hosting a canned food drive called Tan for Cans. The event will be held at the Elkhart, Ind. and Edwardsburg, Mich. Coconut Tan and Spa locations, where patrons are asked to donate food items in exchange for a free tan. The donated items will be spread among local food banks and local SPA Women’s Ministries, an organization that assists battered women.

This is the second year the food drive will be taking place at Coconut Tan and Spa, but the first time it will take place at both locations. Coconut owner Shell Kalka says the first year was extremely successful, and she enjoys the chance to give back to the community.

“I feel like the more local businesses give back to the community, the more the community is willing to support those businesses,” says Kalka.

This is the second time Kalka has hosted an event at her salon, but she also participates in six other events each year. One major event Kalka participates in is Relay for Life. This is especially notable as Kalka is herself a cancer survivor and wants to spread a positive message about the benefits of tanning: “If you tan in moderation, you’ll be just fine.”

Giving back to the community is something Kalka truly believes in and wants others to feel strongly about as well, saying, “If you have the chance to give back, you should.”

To visit Coconut Tan and Spa’s website, please click here.