Body artist Meaghan Witmer, owner of Skin Deep Tattoos LLC, will host Tats for Toys today, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., where she will exchange tattoos for toy donations.

Although this is the first time Witmer has held Tats for Toys, she states she has had a positive community response from clients, Toys for Tots, and the Warren Chamber of Commerce. The event will consist of clients bringing in a toy donation and receiving a Christmas-themed tattoo for $20 ($10 more for full color).

Opening her shop last year, Witmer has held other flash and pop-up events, including doing temporary tattoos for children at the Warren Holiday Walk. However, her previous experience with Toys for Tots and the current state of the economy and its impact on families inspired her to hold the Christmas-themed toy drive. On her motivation to create the event, she says that when her children were younger she relied on Toys for Tots to help her through the Christmas season and now wants to give back to the organization.

This event, and others like it, are part of a larger drive to reduce the stigma that can surround piercing and tattoo shops while using her skills to help the local community.

“As a family person and a small business owner, tattoo businesses had this label put on them, and I’m trying to take that label off by making my shop an inclusive place,” Witmer said.

In service of this goal, she has made a concerted effort to reach out to families, the Warren County Pride organization, women and others who might otherwise feel uncomfortable in a tattoo shop. Witmer said she’s not the only tattoo shop owner pushing for a more inclusive shop experience.

Although it is a first-time event, Witmer foresees the biggest limitation being the time it takes to tattoo a person. She can tattoo about 20 people in four hours and thinks she will have a strong showing based on current community interest. Customers can choose from a set grouping of 2-inch-by-2-inch tattoos featuring images ranging from “A Nightmare Before Christmas” characters to Christmas trees and mistletoe. The cost of the tattoo is solely to cover the cost of supplies used during Tats for Toys, and the images can be found on the Skin Deep Tattoos Facebook page and an ad on the Chamber of Business and Industry website.

There is a $25 price cap on toys, and they should be for children no older than 15 years old. Also, Witmer cannot accept monetary gifts or gift cards.

Skin Deep Tattoos, LLC., is located at 1209 Pennsylvania Avenue E., Warren, PA, 16365 and Witmer can be reached by phone at 814-317-6962 and email at skindeep16365@gmail.com. Those wishing to donate toys but not able to make the event can find the current list of drop off boxes on the Warren, PA Toys for Tots Facebook page (@WarrenPAT4T), with current locations including their local administrative office, the Chamber of Business and Industry, and other local businesses.