Donating to Warm the Children just got easier.

The Michael Susanne Salon in Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown area is encouraging their customers and others in the community to join them in supporting the Warm the Children campaign. The salon, which offers hair and manicure services, has donation forms that can be taken home or filled out on the spot.

For Susan Little, a co-owner of the salon, it’s one more way to help children in the area. She has served on the Wild Swan Theater board of directors and likes to assist charities that are focused on helping children. She believes that “we as a community can do better.”

Her goal: “Get more salons to jump on the bandwagon.”

This is the first year that the salon has made a concerted effort help Warm the Children. “This isn’t about bringing attention to [the salon], it’s about bringing awareness to the charity,” she said.

Next year, she would like to get other salons to join in on the campaign and make it in an industry-wide effort in the area.

Of course, this is the charity season, and people often feel pressured to donate. That is not the case at the Michael Susanne Salon, Little said. While the stylists bring up the finer points of the campaign, such as 100 percent of the donation go to buying clothing for kids in need, they in no way pressure clients to donate, she said.

“I tell them if they want to contribute, they can give 50 cents, a dollar. Every little bit helps,” Little said.

She finds that most clients are “more than happy to donate.” Some have even donated up to $50.

Little said that she appreciates that Warm the Children allows kids to have new clothes.

“These kids, they don’t have much. A new coat means more to them than a used one.”

She points out what a big deal it is for kids to have something that they got to pick out and genuinely want rather than to have to take something. In the end, they have more respect for that item.

The salon supports other charities such as Avalon Housing, but decided to support Warm the Children during the holidays. They will take donations through the end of the year.

Donations can be made by cash, check and even credit card.

The Michael Susanne Salon hires independent stylists who “offer a wide variety of creativity,” according to the website. They are located at 303 Detroit Street, Suite 104. Reach them at 734-623-1077, by Facebook or on their website at www.michaelsusanne.com.

There are many other easy ways to give. You can do so online by visiting annarbor.com/warmthechildren. There, you can also find information on becoming a volunteer shopper. Shoppers handle the vouchers and assist families in shopping, ensuring that parents make wise purchasing decisions.

You also can make a donation in person by visiting any United Bank & Trust branch in Washtenaw County, or you can mail a donation to Warm the Children, c/o United Bank & Trust, PO Box 1127, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1127.

Throughout the year you can also visit AnnArbor.com’s Community Space at 301 E. Liberty St. in downtown Ann Arbor and make a donation when you get a cup of coffee. The coffee is donated by local brewers, and all proceeds go to Warm the Children. This season, Mountain Country Coffee has donated all of the coffee for the 2011 Warm the Children campaign season.

AnnArbor.com and our fiscal partner United Bank & Trust absorb all overhead costs. We also work with the Ann Area Arbor Community Foundation to provide fiscal oversight as our nonprofit partner.