TACOMA--Serve Washington has selected Tacoma resident Mattice Hoyt (Pronouned MAH-Tees) as a recipient of the 2024 Washington State Volunteer Service Awards for the South Puget Sound Region of Washington.
Hoyt is the owner of a beauty supply store, volunteer and board member of the YWCA of Pierce County.
She collects and makes regular donations to the YWCA's Club 253, a charitable club that encourages giving to support the YWCA's programs that help survivors of domestic violence. She gives to a grassroots group called Tacoma Mutual Aid, which provides meals to people experiencing homelessness and crowdfunds to help people behind on their rent or who need help with medical bills. She also involved with and the Tacoma People's Assembly, a group focused on anti-racism, Black liberation and social justice.
Hoyt's business specializes in hair care products for women of color. She regularly donates these products including brushes, combs, bobbles and haircare samples to organizations that provide hygiene kits to people experiencing homelessness and organizations that support foster youth. She says most hygiene items donated to organizations aren't designed for textured hair types.
She also gives hair care products to schools.
"A lot of kids who are in foster care or adopted in Tacoma, their parents are of different races and might not be familiar with how to care for hair of different textures," Hoyt said. "If a kid's essential needs are met, if there's anything that can make a kid fit in a little better, even if it's just having their hair done and looking nice for that first day of school can make a difference."
Hoyt was born in California but has lived in Washington state for most of her life. She and her husband have lived in Tacoma since 2010. Hoyt is also a cancer survivor and double-amputee and as a result, uses a wheelchair.
She says her lived experience and personal values inspire her to serve her community, noting her noting her husband's family owns a small business in Kansas that regularly gives to charitable organizations. Besides making charitable donations to community organizations, Hoyt uses social media to highlight new and minority-owned businesses in Tacoma.
She says as a small business owner, she has a responsibility to create safe, welcoming spaces and uplift voices in her community.
"I am their neighbor and I always try to foster that kind of relationship," Hoyt said. "At the end of the day we're neighbors and it's neighbors that are going to take care of each other as best we can."
YWCA Pierce County: https://www.ywcapiercecounty.org/
