Pinky Cole, the founder, owner, and operator of the Slutty Vegan franchise, hugged one woman, then hugged another, and shook the hand of yet another. Cole stood in the dining room of the restaurant’s flagship store on Edgewood Avenue on Friday, Aug. 28, at the start of the annual Community Giveback event. Community members were given toiletries such as toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, canned goods, oatmeal, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.
Cole told The Atlanta Voice that the Pinky Cole Foundation enjoys giving back to the people who have supported her businesses over the years.
The community giveback event occurred tonight from 3-7 p.m. or until supplies lasted. Boxes full of supplies ready to be distributed. Cole has been engulfed in news pertaining to her business dealings recently, but on Friday afternoon, she was dealing with the people.
“I just want to show the community all the ways I say thanks to them,” she said. “I want them to know that y’all show up for me and I’ll show up for y’all.”
Live music was being played by DJay Amazin inside the Edgewood Slutty Vegan location, which was still open for business at the start of the event. Camera crews were making their way around the location, filming an episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. One of the longtime cast members of the show, Cynthia Bailey, could be seen helping out at a table, while a more recent addition to the cast, Kelli Ferrell, was at another table helping fill Slutty Vegan brown paper bags with giveaway goods.
Cole and her staff served hundreds of people.
“This is important because Slutty Vegan is rooted in the community,” Cole said. “The community always comes first.”
